FORT LAUDERDALE, July 5 (V7N) – After their early exit from the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Inter Miami is ready to shift focus back to Major League Soccer, with star forward Lionel Messi expected to return to the lineup for Friday's match against CF Montreal.
Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano confirmed during a press briefing on July 4 that Messi will travel with the team and is available for selection. However, whether he starts or comes off the bench will be decided closer to kickoff, with the club's official lineup to be announced one hour before the 7:30 p.m. ET match.
Messi, along with several other key players, was given two days off following their grueling Club World Cup campaign, which ended in the Round of 16 after a 2-0 loss to European champions Paris Saint-Germain on June 29.
The CF Montreal fixture marks Inter Miami’s return to MLS play after a six-day break. With Messi’s potential return, the team aims to regain momentum in the domestic league after a disappointing international tournament.
Inter Miami currently sits in a competitive position in the MLS Eastern Conference standings, and Friday’s match is viewed as a crucial opportunity to refocus and regain rhythm with one of the league’s most high-profile players back in action.
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