Messi will play at the Monumental again on 19 January, this time for Inter Miami

Lionel Messi will play at Estadio Monumental again on Tuesday 19 January 2027, this time in an Inter Miami shirt. Inter Miami and River Plate announced the preseason friendly on Friday, and both clubs named Messi in the match. 12

The game will be the first club match of Messi's career in Argentina, ESPN and TyC Sports report. 34

His last appearance at the stadium was his Argentina farewell on 6 October, a 3-0 win over Benin. He scored a penalty for his 126th international goal, in his 208th and final cap. 34

ESPN counts 29 Argentina appearances for Messi at the stadium, the last of them the farewell. 3

He has met Argentine clubs four times, all outside the country. He beat Estudiantes with Barcelona at the 2009 Club World Cup. In the 2015 final in Yokohama, he scored in Barcelona's 3-0 win over River; Suárez scored the other two. 34

The other two were the 2018 Joan Gamper trophy against Boca Juniors and a 2024 friendly in Miami against Newell's Old Boys, his boyhood club. That one finished 1-1. 3

River play Lanús in the round of 16 of Argentina's Clausura on 22 November. The January friendly falls at the end of their preseason, before the Apertura, with Leonardo Ponzio's interim spell in charge due to end with the year. 4

The kickoff time, the ticket sale date and the prices are all still to come. Both clubs said details would follow on their official channels. 12

The releases name Messi, Casemiro, Rodrigo De Paul, Luis Suárez, Nicolás Otamendi, Thiago Almada, Gonzalo Montiel and Ángel Correa among the players expected to appear. 12

The friendly falls a month before Inter Miami's 2027 season opener against FC Cincinnati at Nu Stadium on 19 February. 5

Eldense, the Spanish second-division club whose purchase by Messi was announced in October, has lost three straight games and sits 16th. 6

Javi Calleja, the coach, said on Friday that he has daily contact with the owners and feels "blind confidence" from them. "They are capable of seeing beyond the short term," he said. 7

Eldense host Sabadell on Sunday, a game that kicks off at 01:30 on Monday in Shanghai. 6

Inter Miami open their Round One series against Columbus at Nu Stadium on Saturday 21 November at 6 p.m. ET. That is 07:00 on Sunday 22 November in Shanghai. 8

Fan voting for MLS Goal of the Year closes on Monday 16 November. Messi's free kick at Columbus on 27 September is one of 18 nominees. 9

MLS will announce the MVP winner during the playoffs, with no date set. 10

The River friendly is on 19 January 2027, with the kickoff time still to be confirmed. 1