Lionel Messi among Inter Miami's starting XI for crucial matchup at Cincinnati
Messi was listed in Miami's starting lineup along with 10 of the same starters, who suited up for the club's recent victory this past Saturday against Nashville SC.
Messi will aim to continue a historic scoring streak as he has scored at least two goals in five consecutive MLS matches. Messi enters the game tied with Nashville's Sam Surridge for a league-high 16 goals this season, and has scored 22 overall across all competitions.
Messi will play against Cincinnati for only the second time since joining Inter Miami and is looking for his first career goal against them. Messi did convert a penalty kick in a shootout win for Miami on Aug. 23, 2023, in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals.
Messi's surge has coincided with Miami's resurgence in recent weeks.
Miami (11-3-5) enters the match with 38 points and in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, just four points behind Cincinnati (13-6-3), which has 42 points.
The club has won five consecutive MLS matches and is unbeaten in its past six. And Miami still has three more games left to play than the four teams it is pursuing in the standings.
Messi and Luis Suarez will each start Wednesday, as will goalkeeper Oscar Ustari.
Miami's one change from its most recent match is on the back end where Tomas Aviles will get the start. David Martinez is out for Wednesday night's game.
Yannick Bright (hamstring), Gonzalo Lujan (hamstring) and David Ruiz (hamstring) all traveled to Cincinnati and are listed as available substitutes.
Noah Allen (hamstring), Allen Obando (hamstring), Ian Fray (adductor), Baltasar Rodriguez (hamstring) and Drake Callender (hernia) are all out.
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