Lionel Messi will return to the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on January 19, 2027, this time wearing the jersey of Inter Miami, to play a preseason friendly against River Plate, which both clubs confirmed this Saturday.
The meeting will have a special symbolic significance: just three months earlier, on October 6, that same venue witnessed Messi's emotional farewell to the Argentine national team in a match against Benin, which the Albiceleste won 3-0 in front of over 85,000 spectators, with the Rosario star scoring a penalty and providing two assists in what was his 208th match with the national jersey.
For Inter Miami, the match against the millionaire team will be part of the preparation for the so-called Sprint season of MLS 2027, a shortened format that will run only from February to May as part of adapting the North American calendar to the European one.
The Miami club announced that the initiative aims to "offer an experience that transcends the 90 minutes of play, combining the sporting spectacle with various proposals aimed at the fans of both clubs."
Messi himself shared the announcement through his Instagram account, which fueled anticipation among Argentine fans.
The event poster features top-level figures. From Inter Miami, in addition to Messi, there are the Argentine Rodrigo De Paul, the Brazilian Casemiro, and the Uruguayan Luis Suárez, whose contract with the club expires in December 2026, although his inclusion in the promotion of the match fuels speculation about a possible renewal.
On the River Plate side, the match will bring together several of Messi's teammates from the Qatar 2022 World Cup and the final of the North America 2026 World Cup: Nicolás Otamendi, Gonzalo Montiel, and Thiago Almada.
It will also be Inter Miami's first visit to Argentina, adding a historical appeal to the event for local fans.
The announcement comes in the midst of competitive activity for the Miami team, which is preparing for the MLS 2026 playoffs this week, where it will face Columbus Crew in the first round, with the first match scheduled for November 21.
Messi concluded the regular season with 26 goals in 31 matches and the MLS Golden Boot for the second consecutive year, establishing himself as the most influential player in the North American league.
The exact schedule for the friendly match and details about ticket sales had not been officially announced by the time this edition went to press.
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