It will be Messi’s first game in the state and against the club since joining Inter Miami in July 2023

Lionel Messi is in Minnesota with Inter Miami, and in the starting lineup to play in May 10’s game against Minnesota United at 4:30 p.m. ET.

It will be Messi’s first game in the state and against the club since joining Inter Miami in July 2023. And it’s a matchup between two of the best clubs in Major League Soccer.

Minnesota is second in the MLS Western Conference, while Inter Miami is fourth in the Eastern Conference after winning the MLS Supporters’ Shield a season ago.

Messi will be missing his longtime running mate in Luis Suarez — the Uruguayan star did not travel with the club to Minnesota due to personal reasons.

Messi scored a goal, while Luis Suarez scored and assisted another in Inter Miami’s 4-1 win on May 3 vs. New York Red Bulls. It was a bounce-back victory for Inter Miami after they lost three straight matches for the first time since Messi joined the club.

They were eliminated by Vancouver in the semifinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup in two matches, and dropped a home match to FC Dallas.

Inter Miami is led by coach Javier Mascherano, who played at FC Barcelona with Inter Miami stars Messi, Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.

Minnesota is second in the MLS Western Conference with 19 points from five wins, two losses and four draws – trailing Vancouver (26 points). Forward Tani Oluwasey leads Minnesota with five goals, while Designated Player Joaquín Pereyra leads with four assists. They are led by second-year coach Eric Ramsay, a former Manchester United assistant coach.

Messi, Inter Miami upcoming schedule
May 14: San Jose vs. Inter Miami, 10:30 p.m. ET
May 18: Inter Miami vs. Orlando City, 7 p.m. ET
May 24: Philadelphia Union vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET
May 28: Inter Miami vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m. ET
May 31: Inter Miami vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m. ET.