Di match wey everybody don dey wait for finally don reach. Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF go visit Chicago Fire for Soldier Field on Wednesday, September 9, as two Eastern Conference giants dey battle for supremacy.
But di main story na say Robert Lewandowski, di former Barcelona striker wey now dey play for Chicago Fire, go face Messi for di first time since im sign for MLS. Dis two stars no ever play together for Barcelona even though dem both pass through dia. Lewandowski don talk say im wish dem fit play together.
“For a striker, playing with Messi is an absolute dream. Di way im dey pass, di way im dey put ball inside box… im be di best for that thing for di world. I for don love to play with am for Barcelona before retiring,” Lewandowski tok.
Dia rivalry na real one. Di last time dem meet na for Qatar World Cup on November 30, 2022, when Argentina beat Poland 2-0. Messi miss penalty that day, but Poland still advance. Before that, na di famous 8-2 Champions League quarterfinal for 2020 when Lewandowski score and assist for Bayern Munich wey destroy Barcelona. Dem head-to-head record dey balance, two wins each.
Lewandowski don already face Inter Miami once before. Na im MLS debut on July 22, 2026, and e no sweet. Inter Miami beat Chicago Fire 3-2, with Luis Suarez score twice. Messi no play that game because im still dey vacation after World Cup final. After di match, Lewandowski no hide im frustration: “I’m sure we dey go play better, with less defensive mistakes and better teamwork. With fewer errors, we for don tie or even win dis game.”
Now, with Messi dey di lineup, di spotlight dey shine well well. Chicago Fire go dey under Gregg Berhalter, while Angel Guillermo Hoyos dey manage Inter Miami. Both teams no get any confirmed injury or suspension, but no official starting lineup don release as at now.
Chicago Fire don play five matches recently, with one win, three draws, and one defeat. Dem don score ten goals and concede ten. Dia last match na 4-4 draw with Toronto FC on September 5. Before that, dem draw 2-2 with Seattle Sounders FC. Di only win for that run na away to Orlando City, where dem win 2-1.
Inter Miami, on di other hand, get one win, two draws, and two defeats from dia last five. Dem don score sixteen goals and concede eleven. Dia most recent game na 2-2 draw with Atlanta United on September 6. Before that, dem hammer CF Montreal 7-1, but dem also lose to Toronto FC and Nashville SC.
For di MLS Eastern Conference table, Inter Miami dey second, while Chicago Fire dey third. Fans wey wan watch di match fit catch am for Apple TV for many countries, or for SiriusXM FC (Channel 188) for radio. Di match go kick off at 8:30pm ET, so make you no miss am.
