Messi dey start for Yankee Stadium as Inter Miami face NYCFC for MLS match

Lionel Messi go dey inside starting lineup as Inter Miami travel go Yankee Stadium to play New York City FC for MLS match on Sunday, March 22, 2026. Di match go start by 1 p.m. ET and fans fit watch am live on Apple TV. Messi dey fresh and ready to play before e join Argentina national team for two friendlies later dis month.

Inter Miami just comot from Concacaf Champions Cup earlier dis week, and coach Javier Mascherano talk say di disappointment suppose give dem energy to play well against NYCFC. Mascherano remind everybody say dis two teams last meet for MLS Eastern Conference final for November 29, 2025, where Inter Miami win 5-1. E talk say NYCFC still be almost di same team with coach wey get clear plan for how dem go play.

For dis season, Messi don score four of Inter Miami seven goals across all competitions. Only Mateo Silvetti, Telasco Segovia and Rodrigo De Paul don score for di team dis year. But De Paul no go play on Sunday because of leg injury. Oda players wey no fit play for Inter Miami na Maximiliano Falcón (knee) and Sergio Reguilón (hamstring).

For NYCFC side, dem get three wins and one draw for dis season, make dem collect 10 points for Eastern Conference. Di team dey ahead of Inter Miami but behind first-place Nashville. Midfielder Nicolás Fernández don score four goals dis season as top contributor for NYCFC. Players wey no fit play for NYCFC na Malachi Jones, Alonso Martínez and Andrés Perea – all get leg injuries.

Messi recent achievement na im 900th career goal wey e score during Inter Miami draw against Nashville SC for Concacaf Champions Cup last Wednesday. Messi join Cristiano Ronaldo (965 goals) as di only active players wey don score at least 900 goals for dia career.

After dis MLS match, Messi go join Argentina national team for two friendlies: March 27 against Mauritania and March 31 against Zambia. Both matches go start by 6:15 p.m. ET. Argentina original plan to play Finalissima match against Spain for March 27 in Qatar don cancel because of ongoing conflict for Middle East. Di match wey suppose pit Copa America champions against Euro champions no go hold again.

Messi schedule for next few weeks include Inter Miami matches against Austin FC on April 4 and New York Red Bulls on April 11. All MLS matches go dey available on Apple TV for fans to watch.