FORT LAUDERDALE, July 31 (V7N) — Inter Miami CF will kick off their 2025 Leagues Cup campaign on Wednesday, July 30, against Mexican side Atlas FC, with star players Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba returning to the pitch and new signing Rodrigo De Paul poised to make his club debut.

Messi and Alba are back in the lineup after serving one-match suspensions for missing the 2025 MLS All-Star Game. Their return provides a major boost as Inter Miami look to defend the Leagues Cup title they won in 2023.

The match will also mark the highly anticipated debut of Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul. The 30-year-old completed his transfer to Inter Miami last week and received final clearance for his P1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate earlier on game day. A key figure in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup victory and consecutive Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024, De Paul brings high-level international experience to the squad. His strong chemistry with Messi—developed over years with the national team—is expected to bolster Miami’s midfield immediately.

Inter Miami manager Gerardo "Tata" Martino, who has previously coached Messi, Alba, and De Paul at various stages of their careers, will have the rare luxury of a full-strength squad amid a packed summer calendar. The team enters the tournament with high expectations as the Leagues Cup continues to grow in importance, serving as a qualifying route to the CONCACAF Champions Cup and offering increased visibility across North America.

Atlas FC, aiming to rebound from a disappointing group-stage exit in 2024, will seek to challenge Miami’s dominance and disrupt the reunion of the Argentine trio. A capacity crowd is expected at Chase Stadium, with fans eager to witness the start of a new chapter for Inter Miami's evolving lineup.

As the tournament unfolds, all eyes will be on South Florida to see if the Messi-led side can replicate their previous success and establish themselves as the team to beat in the 2025 edition of the MLS-Liga MX showdown.

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