Watch Lionel Messi live in action tonight! | Sports

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Lionel Messi and league-leading Inter Miami will face defending champion Columbus Crew in the largest recreation of the Major League Soccer season tonight.

What’s at stake? Messi and Inter Miami have an opportunity to win the MLS Supporters’ Shield with a victory. It can be Inter Miami’s second title of the Messi period after profitable Leagues Cup in 2023.

The Supporters’ Shield, given to the MLS regular-season chief, would even be the 46th title in Messi’s storied profession. The Crew, nevertheless, might delay who wins the regular-season title in the event that they’re capable of pull off a draw towards Inter Miami.

“My players, yeah, they know that Miami is coming with Messi, and we know that this is a good game for both teams,” Crew coach Wilfred Nancy advised reporters Tuesday. “This is good for the league, obviously. This is good for everyone.”

It shall be Messi’s first recreation towards the Crew, though each groups performed one another twice already this season. And it will likely be Messi’s fifth recreation since getting back from his Copa America proper ankle harm.

Messi has scored three objectives in 4 video games, however Inter Miami has secured three straight attracts in the course of the span because the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner improves his conditioning. It left some media questioning if Inter Miami has performed higher with out Messi when it received 9 of 10 matches earlier than his return.

“I am happy to have the best player in the world with us. And well, adapting to that won't be a problem,” Inter Miami assistant Javier Morales mentioned.

The Inter Miami match against Columbus Crew shall be broadcast by FS1 in the United States.

The match can even be accessible for live stream by way of MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

The match will start at 7:45 p.m. ET (8:45 p.m. Argentina time)

Yes, Lionel Messi is predicted to start out and play for Inter Miami against Columbus Crew tonight.

Inter Miami 4, Columbus Crew 3: Messi could have heard the discuss Inter Miami enjoying higher with out him earlier than his harm return, and makes an announcement to ship the membership the MLS Supporters' Shield title. Messi scores two objectives with an help to Luis Suarez, and Matias Rojas will rating for Miami towards the Crew. Columbus may need drained legs in its seventh match in 24 days, whereas Miami will play its fifth in the identical span. Safid Deen, Lionel Messi reporter for USA TODAY.

Inter Miami received at house 2-1 in June was Messi was away throughout Copa America, and the Crew received 3-2 in August with Messi injured en path to profitable Leagues Cup 2024.

The manner how Columbus received was emphatic: Christian Ramirez scored in the 67th minute, whereas Diego Rossi scored a brace in the 69th and 80th minutes to steal the victory.

Inter Miami sits atop the MLS common season standings with 65 factors with three video games remaining. A win tonight would give Inter Miami 68 factors, and no different membership would be capable to attain that mark, giving them the Supporters’ Shield. If Inter Miami wins out, it could set a brand new MLS file with 74 factors. A loss to Columbus would power Inter Miami to win its closing two video games to win the Shield.

Columbus Crew is in third with 57 factors, however has 4 video games remaining. A loss towards Inter Miami would faucet the Crew to 66 factors in the event that they win their closing three video games. A win towards Inter Miami, nevertheless, opens a path to a most of 69 factors.

LA Galaxy is second with 58 factors with three video games remaining. Three extra wins would give the Galaxy 67 factors.

Inter Miami CF clinches Supporters' Shield with:

Charlotte FC clinches playoff berth with:

  • Win
  • Draw, and Toronto FC loss or draw, and D.C. United loss or draw, and New England Revolution loss or draw, and Atlanta United loss or draw
  • Toronto FC loss or draw, and New England Revolution loss or draw, and Atlanta United loss or draw, and D.C. United draw

Los Angeles FC clinches home-field benefit in Round 1 with:

  • Win, and Real Salt Lake loss, and Houston Dynamo FC loss or draw, and Colorado Rapids loss or draw, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC draw

Minnesota United FC clinches playoff berth with:

  • Win
  • FC Dallas loss or draw

Portland Timbers clinch playoff berth with:

  • Win
  • Draw, and FC Dallas loss or draw

MORE: MLS scores and fixtures

Heading into MLS Matchday 36, these can be the MLS playoff matchups by means of the primary spherical …

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Clinched playoff spot: Columbus Crew, FC Cincinnati, Inter Miami CF, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls, Orlando City SC

Wild-card match:

  • Toronto FC (No. 8 seed) vs. Philadelphia Union (9)

Round 1 (best-of-three sequence):

  • Inter Miami CF (1) vs. Toronto FC-Philadelphia Union winner
  • Columbus Crew (2) vs. Charlotte FC (7)
  • FC Cincinnati (3) vs. New York Red Bulls (6)
  • Orlando City SC (4) vs. New York City FC (5)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Clinched playoff spot: Colorado Rapids, Houston Dynamo FC, LA Galaxy, Los Angeles FC, Real Salt Lake, Seattle Sounders FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Wild-card match:

  • Minnesota United FC (No. 8 seed) vs. Portland Timbers (9)

Round 1 (best-of-three sequence):

  • LA Galaxy (1) vs. Minnesota United FC-Portland Timbers winner
  • Los Angeles FC (2) vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (7)
  • Real Salt Lake (3) vs. Houston Dynamo FC (6)
  • Colorado Rapids (4) vs. Seattle Sounders FC (5)

MORE: 2024 MLS standings

A complete of 18 groups qualify for the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs — the highest 9 finishers from every convention.

The eighth- and ninth-place finishers in every convention will play in wild-card matches. The prime seven seeds qualify for the Round 1 best-of-three sequence.

Here is the playoff schedule:

  • Oct. 3: Wild-card matches (single-elimination matches)
  • Oct. 26-Nov. 10: Round 1 (best-of-three sequence)
  • Nov. 23-24: Conference semifinals (single-elimination matches)
  • Nov. 30-Dec. 1: Conference finals (single-elimination matches)
  • Dec. 7: MLS Cup (single winner-take-all match)

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