Messi, Inter Miami feel fatigue from overloaded season. Will he play vs Chicago?
Safid Deen- Inter Miami is experiencing fatigue from a congested schedule, having played 48 matches in 2025.
- The team has already clinched an MLS Cup playoff spot and remains in contention for the Supporters' Shield.
- Lionel Messi is expected to play in the upcoming match against the Chicago Fire on Tuesday.
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Lionel Messi walked onto the Inter Miami training fields on Monday, Sept. 29, wiping the inside corners of his eyes before he finally got re-energized to practice.
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano started his press conference with local reporters with a deep breath after rubbing his tired face.
The fatigue is setting in for Inter Miami. They have played in 48 total matches across all competitions in 2025 – more than any other MLS team – with four more regular season games to play.
While they could use the rest, there’s not much time with two more matches this week: Inter Miami will host the Chicago Fire on Tuesday, Sept. 30, then the New England Revolution on Oct. 4. The matches will end a stretch of seven in 21 days from Sept. 13.
Inter Miami’s advancement to the FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16 – which they lost to Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain – and the Leagues Cup final – which they lost on the road to the Seattle Sounders on Aug. 31 – has resulted in their recent schedule congestion.
Inter Miami has already clinched a spot into the MLS Cup playoffs, while an outside chance to repeat as Supporters’ Shield champions is also within reach.
"The truth is that we will manage it as best we can," Mascherano said before Monday’s training session.
"We clearly try to manage without losing our competitiveness, because we are playing for the chance to finish as high as possible in the standings. We knew this moment was coming, and we have faced it, as we have faced everything else this year. In the end, if we have to go through this, it's because we've made it to the final stages of our competitions. Unfortunately, we haven't managed to win, but yes, we’ve competed well."
Inter Miami returned from a lengthy road trip late Saturday Sept. 27, after they settled for a 1-1 draw at Toronto – where Messi was held scoreless for the first time since Sept. 13. They traveled to Canada after they dominated New York City FC 4-0 last Wednesday, Sept. 24, where they clinched a playoff spot. The starters were off on Sunday, Sept. 28.
Inter Miami practiced lightly on Monday with Messi’s energy raising as he joked with his fellow Argentine World Cup championship teammate Rodrigo De Paul during the team’s rondo drill.
Messi remains in the lead for the Golden Boot with 24 goals (after scoring five goals in his previous three matches), and leads MLS with 38 total goal contributions – which could fuel his bid to become the first player in league history to win consecutive MVP awards.
Messi is expected to play against Chicago, but it’s unclear whether Mascherano will employ a rotation in his lineup to get through this week. They’ll have four days before hosting New England, but could use the points in the MLS standings.
Inter Miami could tie FC Cincinnati with 59 points in second place in the MLS Eastern Conference – if they’re able to secure a victory against Chicago.
A win could also keep them in contention with the Philadelphia Union (63 points) for the 2025 Supporters’ Shield – or regular-season title, which they won last season.
Only Chicago (48 points) and the New York Red Bulls (43 points) can contend for the ninth and final playoff spot, so this won’t be an easy match for both sides.
Inter Miami may be jetlagged and running on fumes. But they know what another victory, and three points in the standings, could do for the rest of their season.
"It’s not easy, especially at this stage of the season. I think we've played 48 official games, if I'm not mistaken. It's crazy. And I hope we can play just as many more," Mascherano said.
"So, (Tuesday), we'll try to put out the best team possible to try to play a good game and get the three points, which, with the results that came in over the weekend, will allow us to start climbing up the table."
When is the Inter Miami vs. Chicago Fire match?
The match will be on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. in Argentina).
How to watch Inter Miami vs. Chicago Fire match live stream?
The match will be available on MLS Season Pass and Apple TV+.
Is Messi playing vs. Chicago Fire?
Messi is healthy and expected to play, but his status will be confirmed when Inter Miami announces its starting lineup before the match.
Messi upcoming schedule with Inter Miami and Argentina
Here is Lionel Messi’s schedule with Inter Miami through the end of the 2025 MLS season. The MLS Cup playoffs begin on Oct. 22. It’s unclear whether Messi will join Argentina for two upcoming friendly matches in the United States, including a match in Miami before an MLS game day.
- Sept. 30: Inter Miami vs. Chicago Fire, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Oct. 4: Inter Miami vs. New England, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Oct. 10: Argentina vs. Venezuela, 8 p.m. ET (International Friendly in Miami)
- Oct. 11: Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Oct. 13: Puerto Rico vs. Argentina, 7 p.m. ET (International Friendly in Chicago)
- Oct. 18: Nashville vs. Inter Miami, 6 p.m. ET