Lionel Messi ready for Leagues Cup after MLS ban, Inter Miami coach says
Having the Argentine World Cup champion at full strength isn't enough to dissipate any feelings about Messi's one-game suspension for skipping the MLS All-Star Game for the first-year coach.
Mascherano couldn't help himself but joke about Messi's availability before the Leagues Cup opener against Liga MX side Atlas on Wednesday, July 30 at Chase Stadium,
'If they don't suspend him, then yes. He's going to be available unless there's a suspension,' Mascherano said with a smile.
Messi will return to action after missing Inter Miami's scoreless draw with FC Cincinnati on July 26. It was his first match off since April 27, in a stretch of 22 of 23 matches played during the MLS regular season, the Concacaf Champions Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Messi fueled Inter Miami's first trophy in the first rendition of the Leagues Cup, shortly after his arrival to MLS in July 2023. A rested Messi could be a recipe for success if Inter Miami hopes to win the tournament again.
'Let's hope he's super motivated,' Mascherano said of Messi, adding the suspension had a 'silver lining' of 'mandatory rest after many consecutive games.'
'I think, in a way, the break was good for him. And well, to start this new marathon of games we're going to have ahead of us with the Leagues Cup and then the MLS, it's good for him to be a little fresher.'
Inter Miami's draw with Cincinnati began a stretch of 10 matches in 34 days for the club, which introduced new signee Rodrigo De Paul last week.
DePaul is still awaiting clearances on his work visa he can join the club in practices and matches.
It's unclear if those clearances will come for him to play against Atlas on Wednesday, but Mascherano expects De Paul to be available in Leagues Cup despite not being listed on a submitted team roster before the tournament.
'If he's eligible, he'll be called up – that's for sure,' Mascherano said of De Paul, who won the World Cup alongside Messi and Argentina in 2022.
'He's a player who can clearly give us different options. … He's someone who understands and connects very well with Leo, who is our best player, and that's also one of his advantages.'
Atlas began its Liga MX Apertura 2025-26 season with a win, draw and loss after finishing last season's Clausura season in 14th place among 18 teams. And they might have an X-factor to help them against Inter Miami.
Atlas coach Gonzalo Pineda coached Atlanta United from Aug. 2021 to June 2024, and prepared to meet Messi and Inter Miami at least three times during his MLS tenure.
Messi scored two goals in 22 minutes during a 4-0 win in a Leagues Cup match on July 25, 2023. Messi didn't play in a 5-2 win at Atlanta on Sept. 16, 2023. Messi scored a goal, but Atlanta beat Inter Miami 3-1 at Chase Stadium on May 29, 2024.
Pineda stressed the importance of maintaining possession and limiting space for Inter Miami's stars like Messi, striker Luis Suarez, midfielder Sergio Busquets and left back Jordi Alba, who will also return from his All-Star Game suspension.
Still, he knows his players will have to get past the aura of playing against the former Barcelona stars.
'Maybe, I'll tell them it's Lionel, not Messi. Maybe, I'll tell them it's Luis, not Suarez. Maybe, Sergio, not Busquets … It's about the mental game,' Pineda told USA TODAY Sports.
'I understand he's really good, he's one of the best. The whole time it will be special, but there's nothing more special than competing and having the opportunity to win this game.'
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