Messi plays at Atlanta on Saturday, and will be in Oviedo for the Princess of Asturias Award next week
Inter Miami's coach confirmed Messi will travel to Spain for the Princess of Asturias Award on 23 October and rejoin the team for the Red Bulls game, with Atlanta United away first on Saturday.
Lionel Messi will travel to Spain next week to receive the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports, Inter Miami coach Cristian "Kily" González said on Friday. 1
González said he expects Messi back for Miami's league game at the New York Red Bulls on 24 October, the day after the ceremony in Oviedo. 1
"He needs this. He'll be there, then I will have him at the game so I'm not worried about that at all," González told reporters. 1
"The whole club agrees that he should be there because it is a terribly important award, not just for him but for his family." 1
What the award is
Messi is the first individual footballer to receive the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports, and the jury announced the award in June 2026. 1
The ceremony will be at the Campoamor Theatre in Oviedo at 16:30 local time on Friday 23 October, which is 22:30 in Shanghai. 2
A day earlier, on Thursday 22 October, Messi will meet children and young people at the Palacio de Deportes in Oviedo at 17:30 local time, or 23:30 in Shanghai. 3
When the award was announced, Messi said he was proud to be recognised for what he does away from the pitch as well as on it. 1
Next: Atlanta United away
Miami play at Atlanta United on Saturday 17 October, with kick-off at 7:30 p.m. ET — 07:30 on Sunday in Shanghai — at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. 45
Miami have won their last two league games without conceding, beating D.C. United 4-0 and New York City FC 2-0 at home. 6
González's team sits second in the Eastern Conference with 52 points from 29 games. 4
Atlanta United is 14th with 30 points, six points below the conference's wild-card line with five games left. 6
The teams drew 2-2 at Nu Stadium on 5 September, when Miguel Almirón and Breel Embolo scored for Atlanta. 6
Messi has 23 goals and 14 assists this season, and his 37 goal contributions lead MLS. 6
Petar Musa of FC Dallas is second in the Golden Boot race on 19 goals, four behind. 6
MLS calls Messi the odds-on favourite for a third straight Landon Donovan MLS MVP award. 6
Miami won the MLS Cup last season and is trying to become the first club to win back-to-back titles since the LA Galaxy in 2011 and 2012. 6
Argentina's next window
Argentina will play Uruguay in Buenos Aires on Friday 13 November and Costa Rica in Córdoba on Tuesday 17 November. 7
The Uruguay match is planned for La Bombonera, with the Estadio Único in La Plata as the alternative. 7
These are Argentina's first fixtures since Messi retired from international football on 6 October. 7
What comes after
After Atlanta, Miami play the New York Red Bulls away on 24 October and FC Cincinnati at home on 28 October. 5
The last two league games are at New England on 1 November and at home to Charlotte FC on 7 November. 5
In Shanghai time, the Red Bulls game kicks off at 05:30 on Sunday 25 October and Cincinnati at 07:30 on Thursday 29 October. 5
The New England game is at 07:00 on Monday 2 November, and the Charlotte game at 05:00 on Sunday 8 November. 5
References
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- 5Inter Miami CF 2026 fixtures
espn.com
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