Inter Miami are enjoying an impressive run of form, remaining undefeated in 2025. Javier Mascherano has managed to rotate his star players, giving valuable opportunities to the club’s promising young talents. This rotation has sparked questions about Lionel Messi‘s availability for the upcoming match against Charlotte FC, especially after his absence in the last two games. However, there are now updates regarding his status for the match.
After missing two games, Lionel Messi is officially returning to Inter Miami’s matchday squad. However, Messi will begin the game on the bench against Charlotte FC. This doesn’t rule out his participation, as he could still see some minutes on the field.
Despite his absence, Inter Miami earned convincing victories in both matches. This highlights the team’s impressive progress, proving they are no longer heavily dependent on Messi’s presence to succeed. As a result, Inter Miami appears even more competitive heading forward.
Lionel Messi has enjoyed a fantastic start to 2025, recording two goals and two assists in Inter Miami’s three official matches so far. Unlike previous seasons, Messi now benefits from a more balanced squad in all areas. Under Javier Mascherano’s guidance, the team has successfully addressed the defensive issues that had plagued them in past campaigns.
What have previous games between Inter Miami and Charlotte FC been like?
In their last six meetings, Inter Miami have recorded three wins, two draws, and just one loss against Charlotte FC, showing their tendency to avoid defeat in this matchup. However, they cannot afford to be complacent.
Charlotte FC enters the game on an impressive winning streak in 2025. They also boast the experienced Wilfried Zaha, a former Premier League standout who has already made a significant impact on the team. This sets the stage for what could be a highly entertaining match.
Official lineups
Javier Mascherano will keep Lionel Messi on the bench. As a result, Inter Miami’s starting lineup against Charlotte FC will be as follows: Oscar Ustari; Gonzalo Lujan, Noah Allen, Tomas Aviles, Jordi Alba; Yannick Bright, Sergio Busquets, Telasco Segovia; Benjamin Cremaschi, Luis Suarez, Tadeo Allende.
On the other hand, head coach Dean Smith will field his strongest starting lineup to preserve his unbeaten record in MLS: Kristijan Kahlina; Nathan Byrne, Adilson Malanda, Andrew Privett, Tim Ream; Ashley Westwood, Brandt Bronico; Pep Biel; Liel Abada, Patrick Agyemang, Wilfried Zaha.