FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Lionel Messi and Inter Miami return to action in the 2025 Leagues Cup tournament against Liga MX side Necaxa on Saturday, Aug. 2.
Messi had two assists leading Inter Miami to victory in their first Leagues Cup match, but they need to score more goals to move up the MLS side of the standings.
The top 4 MLS and Liga MX sides will advance to the knockout stage, but all eyes will be on Messi to provide the scoring load for Inter Miami to qualify for the next round.
“There are still two games to play, a lot can happen,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said a day before the club’s match.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Inter Miami-Necaxa match, and stay tuned for live updates from USA TODAY Sports:
Watch Leagues Cup matches on Apple TV
Is Messi playing tonight? Inter Miami vs. Necaxa starting lineups
Yes, Messi is playing and in the starting lineup, announced before the match.
What time is Inter Miami vs. Necaxa Leagues Cup match?
The match begins at 7 p.m. ET (8 p.m. in Argentina).
How to watch Inter Miami vs. Necaxa in Leagues Cup?
The match is available to live stream on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
Necaxa coach knows Messi, Inter Miami well
Necaxa, which beat Atlanta United 3-1 in its Leagues Cup opener July 30, is led by new coach Fernando Gago.
Gago was a starter alongside Messi and Mascherano in Argentina’s 1-0 win in the Olympic men’s soccer final in 2008, and came off the bench in their loss to Germany in the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup final.
“It’s always special to face people you know, people you’ve shared so many good times with,” Mascherano said of Gago. “And in the end, when the ball starts rolling, I’ll try to do everything I can to compete in the best way possible and win so we can still hope to qualify.”
Inter Miami vs. Necaxa prediction
Inter Miami 4, Necaxa 1: Messi finds the back of the net again for two goals, Luis Suarez and Tadeo Allende score as Inter Miami cruises to a victory at home. — Safid Deen
Inter Miami vs. Necaxa betting odds
Here are the betting odds, according to BetMGM.
Inter Miami: -220
Draw: +340
Necaxa: +400
Over/under: 3.5
Inter Miami upcoming schedule
Aug. 6: Inter Miami vs. Pumas, 7:30 p.m. ET (Leagues Cup)
Aug. 10: Orlando City vs. Inter Miami, 8 p.m. (MLS regular season)
Aug. 16: Inter Miami vs. LA Galaxy, 7:30 p.m. (MLS regular season)
Aug. 19 or 20: Leagues Cup quarterfinals (if applicable)
Aug. 23: D.C. United vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET (MLS regular season)