Is Lionel Messi Playing Today? Yes — Expected to Start at New England, With a Champions Cup Berth on the Line for Inter Miami

Yes - Lionel Messi is available and expected to start for Inter Miami at the New England Revolution on Sunday night, according to Athlon Sports' confirmed team-news file, published at 3:33 p.m. Eastern. Messi played the full match against FC Cincinnati in midweek, after being benched last weekend against Red Bull New York, and the reporting has him in the expected front three alongside Luis Suarez and German Berterame for the 7 p.m. Eastern kickoff at Gillette Stadium, on Apple TV.

The question existed because of a yellow card. Messi received his fifth yellow of the season against Cincinnati, a tally that would ordinarily result in a one-match ban. However, the same report notes, MLS has a disciplinary provision that can reduce a player's yellow-card tally if he has gone a sustained period without one - the mechanism behind his availability for Sunday night. The lineup remains an expected lineup until official team news posts before kickoff, but the availability answer, per the reporting, is settled.

The stakes explain why it matters. This is Inter Miami's final away game of the regular season, and both clubs are already playoff-bound - but New England, second in the Supporters' Shield standings on 58 points, has already secured a top-four spot, while Inter Miami, fourth on 56, needs a win to secure its own top-four position and qualify for the 2027 CONCACAF Champions Cup. The form line favors the hosts: New England beat Red Bull New York 3-2 in midweek, while Miami needed a late equalizer to draw Cincinnati 2-2. A win in Foxborough settles Miami's seeding question on the field; anything less leaves it to the final weekend.