Inter Miami visit second-place Minnesota United on Saturday. Messi is likely to return, while Suárez will miss out. Both teams are coming off strong wins ahead of a high-stakes clash at Allianz Field.
Messi Expected to Feature, Suárez to Miss Out
Inter Miami are set to visit Minnesota United this Saturday in one of the most anticipated fixtures of the MLS season, and it’s looking increasingly likely that Lionel Messi will take the field. With fans paying premium prices to witness the football icon in action at Allianz Field, signs point toward a Messi appearance after a full week of training, Miami’s first since mid-April.
Michelle Kaufman of the Miami Herald reported earlier on Friday that head coach Javier Mascherano didn’t mention Messi in the team’s injury update, instead focusing on goalkeeper Drake Callender, whose status remains unclear, and Luis Suárez, who will miss the game for “personal reasons.” The club said an injury update on Callender would follow later in the day, but Suárez’s absence has already been confirmed.
Suárez's absence is a major blow. The veteran forward leads Miami in goal contributions this season with two goals and six assists in 10 league matches. Without him, Miami’s attack will rely more heavily on Messi, who has been prolific since joining the club last summer, registering 43 goals and 25 assists in 53 appearances across all competitions. This season alone, he has notched four goals and two assists in seven league games, plus five goals and one assist in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
As Jonathan Harrison noted in Bring Me The News, this will be the first time the Loons and Miami have played each other since Minnesota lost 2-1 in Miami in June 2022.
Miami Juggling Schedule, Minnesota in Strong Form
The trip to Minnesota kicks off a demanding week for Inter Miami, who travel to San Jose midweek before returning home to face Orlando City next weekend. With Saturday’s match against second-place Minnesota presenting the toughest challenge of the three, Mascherano may opt to field his strongest XI in Saint Paul before rotating in San Jose.
Miami currently sit fourth in the Eastern Conference with 21 points from 10 matches, trailing leaders Columbus Crew by just two points and holding a game in hand over most top rivals. They snapped a three-game winless run last week with a 4–1 win over New York Red Bulls, where Messi and Suárez both starred, providing a much-needed morale boost after two stinging defeats to Vancouver Whitecaps and a painful 4–3 loss to FC Dallas despite leading 3–1 at one point.
As Izabelle Franca reported for 90min, Javier Mascherano is aiming to stabilize the team’s performances as they enter a critical stretch. “Currently, as there is no other competition, everything has been set up for MLS now,” she wrote, noting Miami play seven league matches in May before the FIFA Club World Cup break.
Minnesota Riding Momentum with Depth and Confidence
Minnesota United come into the weekend in top form, sitting second in the Western Conference with 19 points from 11 matches. After an eight-game unbeaten streak ended with a loss to Vancouver, they responded with a 3–0 away win over Austin FC and a 1–0 U.S. Open Cup victory over Louisville City, the latter using a rotated squad to keep starters fresh for Saturday’s clash.
As Franca highlighted in 90min, head coach Eric Ramsay, in his debut season, has drawn praise for smart tactical changes and effective integration of new signings. Julian Gressel, who joined recently after being released by Inter Miami, made his debut in the Austin win. Joaquín Pereyra and Anthony Markanich scored their first goals for the club, adding new attacking options alongside forwards Tani Oluwaseyi and Kelvin Yeboah, who have nine goals between them this season.
In goal, Canadian international Dayne St. Clair has been a standout, leading the league in clean sheets. Ramsay’s influence and the team’s tactical consistency have helped build strong momentum and fan support.
High Stakes at Allianz Field
This match marks the first meeting between the two clubs since June 2022, when Miami edged a 2–1 win at home. Saturday’s clash begins at 3:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass, with local radio coverage on 1500 ESPN.
With Messi expected to play and Minnesota flying high, the match is shaping up as a key test for both clubs, one aiming to prove title credentials, the other to maintain momentum and capitalize on home advantage.
🚨 ⚽️ 🐐 Inter Miami Friday update: Luis Suarez had to travel for personal reasons, per Javier Mascherano, not expected to play vs Minnesota. Callender injury update to come. @MiamiHerald @HeraldSports #Messi𓃵 #InterMiamiCF #MLS pic.twitter.com/QgOIOKzq1g
— Michelle Kaufman (@kaufsports) May 9, 2025
Messi Expected to Feature, Suárez to Miss Out
Inter Miami are set to visit Minnesota United this Saturday in one of the most anticipated fixtures of the MLS season, and it’s looking increasingly likely that Lionel Messi will take the field. With fans paying premium prices to witness the football icon in action at Allianz Field, signs point toward a Messi appearance after a full week of training, Miami’s first since mid-April.
Michelle Kaufman of the Miami Herald reported earlier on Friday that head coach Javier Mascherano didn’t mention Messi in the team’s injury update, instead focusing on goalkeeper Drake Callender, whose status remains unclear, and Luis Suárez, who will miss the game for “personal reasons.” The club said an injury update on Callender would follow later in the day, but Suárez’s absence has already been confirmed.
Suárez's absence is a major blow. The veteran forward leads Miami in goal contributions this season with two goals and six assists in 10 league matches. Without him, Miami’s attack will rely more heavily on Messi, who has been prolific since joining the club last summer, registering 43 goals and 25 assists in 53 appearances across all competitions. This season alone, he has notched four goals and two assists in seven league games, plus five goals and one assist in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
As Jonathan Harrison noted in Bring Me The News, this will be the first time the Loons and Miami have played each other since Minnesota lost 2-1 in Miami in June 2022.
Miami Juggling Schedule, Minnesota in Strong Form
The trip to Minnesota kicks off a demanding week for Inter Miami, who travel to San Jose midweek before returning home to face Orlando City next weekend. With Saturday’s match against second-place Minnesota presenting the toughest challenge of the three, Mascherano may opt to field his strongest XI in Saint Paul before rotating in San Jose.
Miami currently sit fourth in the Eastern Conference with 21 points from 10 matches, trailing leaders Columbus Crew by just two points and holding a game in hand over most top rivals. They snapped a three-game winless run last week with a 4–1 win over New York Red Bulls, where Messi and Suárez both starred, providing a much-needed morale boost after two stinging defeats to Vancouver Whitecaps and a painful 4–3 loss to FC Dallas despite leading 3–1 at one point.
As Izabelle Franca reported for 90min, Javier Mascherano is aiming to stabilize the team’s performances as they enter a critical stretch. “Currently, as there is no other competition, everything has been set up for MLS now,” she wrote, noting Miami play seven league matches in May before the FIFA Club World Cup break.
Minnesota Riding Momentum with Depth and Confidence
Minnesota United come into the weekend in top form, sitting second in the Western Conference with 19 points from 11 matches. After an eight-game unbeaten streak ended with a loss to Vancouver, they responded with a 3–0 away win over Austin FC and a 1–0 U.S. Open Cup victory over Louisville City, the latter using a rotated squad to keep starters fresh for Saturday’s clash.
As Franca highlighted in 90min, head coach Eric Ramsay, in his debut season, has drawn praise for smart tactical changes and effective integration of new signings. Julian Gressel, who joined recently after being released by Inter Miami, made his debut in the Austin win. Joaquín Pereyra and Anthony Markanich scored their first goals for the club, adding new attacking options alongside forwards Tani Oluwaseyi and Kelvin Yeboah, who have nine goals between them this season.
In goal, Canadian international Dayne St. Clair has been a standout, leading the league in clean sheets. Ramsay’s influence and the team’s tactical consistency have helped build strong momentum and fan support.
High Stakes at Allianz Field
This match marks the first meeting between the two clubs since June 2022, when Miami edged a 2–1 win at home. Saturday’s clash begins at 3:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass, with local radio coverage on 1500 ESPN.
With Messi expected to play and Minnesota flying high, the match is shaping up as a key test for both clubs, one aiming to prove title credentials, the other to maintain momentum and capitalize on home advantage.
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