Messi went over to the Atlanta United bench before kickoff to hug Martino, who eventually approached Suarez on the Inter Miami bench to exchange another hug after the final whistle.

“Well, for me, it was a really nice chapter that we experienced here in Miami,” Martino said postgame in response to Bolavip. “We were able to accomplish some of the first important things for the club. They’re two great figures, two great soccer players.

“But beyond that, what I’ll take away is the relationship we built and the fact that I was able to play a small part in their careers. Obviously, I spent more time with Leo and less time with Luis, but we built a great relationship, and the greeting with both of them was simply a reflection of that.”

Messi and Suarez’s experience with Martino in Miami

Both Messi and Suarez enjoyed a fruitful stint under Martino at Inter Miami. The Argentine star arrived first and, with Tata as his coach, led the Herons to immediate success at the 2023 Leagues Cup, the club’s first major trophy.

The Uruguayan striker arrived for the 2024 season, helping Messi and Martino lead Inter Miami to an MLS record 74-point regular season to secure the MLS Supporters’ Shield. They couldn’t translate that success into the postseason though, as Atlanta United knocked them out in the first round of the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. Either way, all three had a wonderful time together in South Florida.

Martino had already worked with Messi at Barcelona (2013-14) before overlapping with him on the Argentine national team (2014-16), so they already had a well-established relationship before reuniting in Miami. But Martino and Suarez got to spend enough time together to develop a genuine bond, which made Saturday’s game even more special.

Miguel Almiron praises Messi after signs of mutual respect

Though not a former teammate, Atlanta United star Miguel Almiron also hugged Messi before and after the game. When asked about it by Bolavip, the Paraguay international made sure to show his respect for the Argentine legend.

“I have a lot of respect for Leo,” Almiron said. “I think everyone admires him for who he is, both as a player and as a person. I admire his game and the way he continues to make history.”

Silvetti suffered shoulder discomfort once again and had to leave the match between Inter Miami and Atlanta United just six minutes after coming on. The Argentine had returned to action following an injury that had kept him off the pitch.

He suffered a left shoulder dislocation during the match against Atletico San Luis in the Leagues Cup. After a recovery period, he returned to group training a few days ago and earned the opportunity to log minutes in MLS.

Silvetti replaces Luis Suarez and exits six minutes later

Silvetti entered in the 39th minute of the second half to replace Luis Suarez and appeared to have the chance to get back to playing. However, his return proved short-lived.

Just six minutes later, the Argentine felt pain in his shoulder once again and had to leave the pitch for Inter Miami. His place was taken by Daniel Pinter, leaving Silvetti with renewed concern over another issue in the same area.

Silvetti initially suffered a dislocated left shoulder in early August. The forward entered a recovery process following the injury and has finally stepped back onto the pitch.

Inter Miami drop key points

The Herons had the perfect opportunity to pick up points after Nashville drew 0-0 against New York City, halting their winning streak. It was Inter Miami’s chance to close the gap, but following the draw, Nashville remained at 53 points while Inter Miami sat at 43 — 10 points behind.

The weather protocol is very clear in these cases — a rule that was even implemented in the 2026 World Cup — triggering immediately whenever lightning is detected within an 8-mile radius (approximately 13 kilometers) around the stadium.

To give an idea of how long it can take, a 30-minute countdown timer begins. Every time a new lightning strike occurs within the 8-mile radius, the wait time resets completely to 30 minutes. The match cannot resume until 30 continuous minutes pass without electrical activity in the area.

The most impacted matches by weather delays in MLS

Among the most extreme and memorable cases of severe weather disruptions in MLS history is Real Salt Lake vs. LAFC (March 2024): A match that suffered multiple interruptions almost immediately after kickoff due to an extreme combination of winds, nearby electrical strikes, and an intense snowstorm accumulating on the pitch at America First Field, forcing constant temporary suspensions.

Another case is LA Galaxy vs. LAFC (2023). The highly anticipated Los Angeles derby, set to break attendance records at the Rose Bowl, had to be postponed entirely before kickoff due to a severe weather alert and dangerous thunderstorms in the area.

Inter Miami and their most affected matches

Inter Miami have experienced several notable weather delay episodes due to frequent thunderstorms in Florida, but among the most memorable is Inter Miami vs Orlando City (Leagues Cup 2023). This Clasico del Sol suffered one of the most severe and chaotic initial delays.

Kickoff was scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET, but a heavy downpour with electrical activity over DRV PNK Stadium forced the match to be delayed by more than two and a half hours, finally starting at 10:35 p.m.

And a very recent one also in the Leagues Cup: Inter Miami vs Atletico de San Luis (Leagues Cup 2026). Unlike other delays that occur before kickoff, this game at Nu Stadium suffered a direct interruption mid-match. In the 68th minute, while Inter Miami were leading 4-2 (with a brace from Lionel Messi), lightning strikes forced play to be stopped.

Inter Miami are coming off the debut of a new head coach last matchday against Montreal, handing them an historic 7-1 blowout at Nu Stadium in Kily Gonzalez’s first game on the bench.

Atlanta United sit 13th in the MLS Eastern Conference and are coming off a 2-0 loss to Charlotte. They will look to pick up valuable points against the second-place side, who also need the points to catch Nashville.

Inter Miami confirmed lineup

The pink side will look to capitalize on home-field advantage to secure three key points in the fight to stay at the top of the Eastern Conference. With Messi as the main attacking weapon, the Herons face a consistently demanding opponent looking to pull off a road upset.

Inter Miami confirmed lineup: Dayne St. Clair; Fricio Caicedo, Maximiliano Falcon, Casemiro, Ian Fray; Telasco Segovia, Yannick Bright, Rodrigo De Paul; German Berterame, Luis Suarez, and Lionel Messi.

Atlanta United confirmed lineup

Gerardo “Tata” Martino will manage Atlanta United from the opposing bench and face Lionel Messi once again in an official match. The coach previously managed Messi with the Argentina national team and during his time at Inter Miami. The match will feature a reunion between the two, this time with Martino leading the visiting team.

Atlanta confirmed lineup: Lucas Hoyos; Elias Baez, Junior Alonso, Paulo Diaz, Tomas Jacob; Aleksey Miranchuk, William Reilly, Tristan Muyumba, Cooper Sanchez; Miguel Almiron, and Breel Embolo.

How to watch Inter Miami vs Atlanta United in the USA

Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United will be available live on Apple TV in the United States. The 2026 MLS media-rights arrangement makes every regular-season match available through a subscription, with no separate MLS Season Pass required.

Can I watch Inter Miami vs Atlanta United for free?

Apple TV currently offers a 7-day free trial for MLS, meaning eligible new subscribers can use the trial to watch Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United without paying during the trial period.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

Inter Miami return to MLS action on September 5, and the timing could hardly be more interesting. The Herons are coming off their biggest regular-season win in club history, a 7-1 demolition of CF MontrEal, in which Lionel Messi scored four times and added an assist. The result ended a five-game winless run across all competitions and earned Messi another MLS Player of the Matchday award.

That performance changed the mood around Miami, but the challenge now is to turn one spectacular night into sustained momentum. Messi leads the MLS scoring race with 18 goals, and Inter Miami’s attack has become the centerpiece of their push near the top of the Eastern Conference.

With the regular season entering its decisive stretch, another home victory would be valuable as the Herons look to secure a strong playoff position and keep their hopes of another MLS title alive.

Atlanta United arrive in a very different situation. The Five Stripes are trying to recover from a difficult campaign and will face one of the league’s most dangerous attacks on the road.

The matchup also carries an additional storyline because Gerardo “Tata” Martino is back in charge of Atlanta after previously leading the club to its historic 2018 MLS Cup title. Martino knows Inter Miami particularly well from his time coaching the Herons alongside Messi.

Inter Miami vs Atlanta United: Predicted Lineups

Inter Miami (4-3-3): Dayne St. Clair; Noah Allen, Maximiliano Falcon, Casemiro, Ian Fray; Telasco Segovia, Yannick Bright, Rodrigo De Paul; German Berterame, Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi.

Atlanta United (4-3-1-2): Lucas Hoyos; Enea Mihaj, Junior Alonso, Paulo Diaz, Tomas Jacob; Will Reilly, Tristan Muyumba, Cooper Sanchez; Aleksei Miranchuk; Miguel Almiron, Fafa Picault.

What time is the Inter Miami vs Atlanta United match?

The Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United match kicks off on Saturday, September 5, at 7:30 PM ET at Nu Stadium. Major League Soccer and Inter Miami’s official schedule both confirm the 7:30 PM ET start time.

• Eastern Time: 7:30 PM
• Central Time: 6:30 PM
• Mountain Time: 5:30 PM
• Pacific Time: 4:30 PM

The MLS regular season is entering a crucial stage, and the South Florida side cannot afford to let any more opportunities slip away if it wants to keep pace with Nashville SC, the conference’s sole leaders. Their latest 7-1 thrashing of CF Montreal, with Messi scoring four goals, left a very positive impression of Inter Miami.

This is the starting XI expected to take the field at Nu Stadium: Dayne St. Clair; Ian Fray, Casemiro, Maximiliano Falcon, Facundo Mura; Rodrigo De Paul, Yannick Bright, Telasco Segovia; Lionel Messi (C), German Berterame, Luis Suarez.

Messi looks to stay among the top scorers

Years and seasons go by, yet Lionel Messi continues to cement his legacy as one of the greatest players in history. This campaign is no exception, as the Argentine superstar remains the league’s leading scorer so far this season.

Having played 22 matches in the regular season, Messi has scored 18 goals so far, while also providing nine assists. His closest challenger in the scoring charts is FC Dallas’ Petar Musa, with 16 goals, while New York City FC’s Nicolas Fernandez Mercau rounds out the top three with 14.

What’s next for the Herons?

The matchup against Atlanta United will be a tough test for a team looking to overtake Nashville SC at the top of the standings. If the Herons want to remain in contention for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, they will have to overcome these difficult challenges lying ahead:

• at Chicago Fire, September 9 (Soldier Field)
• vs Nashville SC, September 12
• vs San Diego FC, September 20
• at Columbus Crew, September 27
• vs DC United, October 10

Speaking for the first time since the move, the Honduran international addressed the media on Thursday. Bolavip asked him about his experience with the coaching changes in Miami this year, and whether he’s looking for more stability with Michael Bradley’s team.

“Yes, of course. I’m looking to find more stability,” Ruiz said, in response to Bolavip. “Now it’s gonna be the third coach (in Miami), it was a little unstable.“

Inter Miami’s coaching instability in 2026

Inter Miami announced Javier Mascherano’s exit in April shortly after their early 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup elimination against Nashville, with Guillermo Hoyos immediately taking over. Last week, reports out of Argentina claimed that the Herons had finalized a deal to hire Cristian Gonzalez as their new head coach.

Inter Miami confirmed the Gonzalez news a few hours later, clarifying that Hoyos would remain in charge of the team until Kily had his paperwork ready. The announcement came as Miami was on a five-game winless streak across all competitions, a negative run that included a group stage elimination from the Leagues Cup.

Inter Miami got back on track with Messi scoring four goals against Montreal, but the managerial change is still in place. The team is now second in the East.

David Ruiz looking to bounce back in NY

The coaching changes did little to help Ruiz, who saw little action in 2026. The 22-year-old, who made it all the way from Inter Miami‘s academy to the first team in 2023, only played in 11 out of 28 possible games this season, with just three starts and no goals or assists scored.

Ruiz enjoyed better times in Miami though, contributing to the team’s first major trophy at the 2023 Leagues Cup (one goal in six games), as well as the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield (one goal and two assists in 28 games). A hamstring injury prevented Ruiz from helping Messi and company in their 2025 MLS Cup title run.

Now, the Honduran sensation — who boasts three goals in 10 caps for his country — is looking forward to revitalizing his career in a young Red Bulls team that is currently eighth in the East.

“Yeah, I’m looking to come, add my little grain of rice, being able to come and work hard and fight for a position,” Ruiz said. “And yeah, I just come with the mentality to win and make it to the playoffs.“

According to Argentine journalist Cesar Luis Merlo, Matias Galarza Fonda is joining on loan from River Plate for the remainder of the season. The midfielder recently raised his international profile by earning a roster spot with Paraguay for the 2026 World Cup—where he scored a goal—prompting a reported offer for a one-year loan featuring a $3 million purchase option for a 50% stake.

Miami hopes these reinforcements will help restart its winning momentum in Major League Soccer. The club has faced a stretch of inconsistency following Messi’s return to the squad from his stint at the 2026 World Cup in North America.

Additionally, Inter Miami received encouraging news regarding Mateo Silvetti’s injury recovery. Getting Silvetti back on the pitch will be crucial as the Herons navigate upcoming fixtures in their bid to secure back-to-back MLS Cup titles.

Additional Inter Miami roster moves

Alongside the two incoming signings, Inter Miami confirmed that midfielder David Ruiz will join the New York Red Bulls on loan for the remainder of the season. The club now looks to quickly integrate its newest additions into the lineup for the upcoming MLS stretch run.

The front office also made a change on the sidelines, naming former Argentine star Kily Gonzalez as head coach for the rest of the season. Gonzalez replaces interim manager Guillermo Hoyos following a string of disappointing league results.

Updated Inter Miami roster

Goalkeepers

• #97 Dayne St. Clair (Canada)
• #13 Luis Barraza (USA)
• #34 Rocco Rios Novo (Argentina)

Defenders

• #3 Sergio Reguilon (Spain)
• #4 Facundo Mura (Argentina)
• #15 Fricio Caicedo (Ecuador)
• #16 Micael (Brazil)
• #17 Ian Fray (Jamaica)
• #2 Gonzalo Lujan (Argentina)
• #37 Maximiliano Falcon (Uruguay)
• #42 Yannick Bright (Italy)

Midfielders

• #5 Casemiro (Brazil)
• #7 Rodrigo De Paul (Argentina)
• #8 Telasco Segovia (Venezuela)
• #20 Santiago Morales (USA)
• #22 David Ayala (Argentina)
• Matías Galarza (Paraguay) — Reported Transfer Target (River Plate)

Forwards

• #10 Lionel Messi (Captain, Argentina)
• #9 Luis Suarez (Uruguay)
• #19 German Berterame (Mexico)
• #21 Tadeo Allende (Argentina)
• #24 Mateo Silvetti (Argentina)
• Allen Obando (Ecuador)
• Riquelme Fillipi (Brazil)

According to Argentine transfer market expert Cesar Luis Merlo, Allen will leave Inter Miami and join Chicago Fire for $3 million. The departure raises questions for the Herons as they manage defensive shortcomings and injury issues across the roster, and Messi‘s spectacular performance is not enough.

With the move, the 22-year-old defender ends his tenure with Inter Miami to begin a new chapter at the club alongside Robert Lewandowski, where he is expected to secure an important role.

Chicago bolsters defensive unit

Chicago Fire recognized one of their weak spots and decided to reinforce the backline. Along with the addition of Allen, they also brought in Norwegian international Andreas Hanche-Olsen.

Mainz 05 have officially confirmed the departure of Hanche-Olsen to MLS side Chicago Fire. The 29-year-old center-back leaves the Rheinhessen club with immediate effect after three-and-a-half years at the MEWA Arena. Hanche-Olsen has reportedly signed a long-term contract with Chicago.

The transfer comes shortly after the defender found himself outside Mainz’s immediate plans at the beginning of the new campaign. Hanche-Olsen was omitted from the matchday roster for the club’s opening two competitive fixtures and subsequently explored the possibility of leaving before the transfer deadline. Mainz have received a fee for the 3.5 million euro-valued defender, though the exact amount has not been disclosed.

Expectations rise for Chicago

The Chicago Fire are third in the Eastern Conference with 37 points and on track for a second-straight Audi MLS Cup Playoffs trip. With these key additions—bringing in international experience with Hanche-Olsen alongside Allen, who knows what it takes to win an MLS championship—the squad will look to make a deep postseason run.

According to Jose Armando of Deporte Total, Silvetti has returned to on-field training after suffering an injury that kept him out for nearly a month. Silvetti’s return could prove vital for the tempo of the attack.

German Berterame is also available, providing key options either as substitutes or starters to sustain the high-pressing style that Inter Miami demands and Messi and Suarez don’t contribute so much to—a tactical approach in which Silvetti was fundamental.

What happened to Silvetti

Silvetti suffered a dislocated left shoulder in early August during a Leagues Cup match against Atletico San Luis. The forward entered a recovery process following the injury and has finally stepped back onto the pitch.

What lies ahead for Messi and Inter Miami

The Herons return to action this Saturday, September 5, when they face Atlanta United in a clash that could prove pivotal in defining their Major League Soccer (MLS) title aspirations.

Inter Miami have accumulated 42 points through 22 regular-season matches and need to keep up the pace to close the gap on Nashville, who lead the standings with 52 points.

Over his last four matches, Lionel Messi has registered six goals and two assists, a dominant run that keeps him among the top individual performers in the MLS. Having Silvetti back as soon as possible will be critical for Inter Miami as the season continues.

Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami contract expires at the end of 2028. Hence, it will remain to be seen if he renews his contract and keeps playing, or if he decides to hang his boots for good, and step into a new chapter of his life. Messi explained his decision to retire from Argentina in a heartfelt way.

The fact is that Messi has accomplished every single thing a soccer player would want. He has established himself as arguably the best player of all time and there are little to no accolades that he hasn’t conquered yet. Lionel Messi retiring from Argentina also raises the question of how long will Cristiano Ronaldo keep playing for Portugal.

Messi’s numbers in Argentina vs Inter Miami

Of course, raw numbers will tell that Messi’s stats with Argentina are way higher. He has more games and played for the national team throughout his career. But, what about the averages? Has Messi kept his tallies in check with Inter Miami compared to the ‘Albiceleste‘?

Messi averaged 0.89 G/A per match with Argentina. That equals 125 goals and 68 assists in 207 games. With Inter Miami, Messi’s averages are even better. Despite going to the team at an older age, Messi has 98 goals and 54 assists in 111 games, for an average of 1.36 G/A per match with Inter Miami.

Messi’s legacy is unparalleled in both Argentina and Inter Miami

Messi won two Copa Americas and the 2022 World Cup, and also guided Argentina to two additional World Cup finals (2014, 2026), and two Copa Americas finals (2015, 2016). That is a legacy that is not likely to be equaled. Argentina is one of the best soccer national teams in history, and Messi has a big responsibility in that statement. With him, Argentina was always a contender.

As for Inter Miami, the club has less than 10 years of existence, but Messi is already its best player ever. His output is excellent and age seems not to be an issue for him in the MLS.