So will Lionel Messi play? (2024)

• 31': USMNT striker Brandon Vazquez scores for Monterrey after a calamitous giveaway by goalkeeper Drake Callender.
• 58': German Berterame scores a fantastic goal from range to double Monterrey's lead on the night.
• 64': Jesus Gallardo snaps a header home to add to the lead.
• 78': Jordi Alba is sent off after receiving a second yellow card.
• 85': Diego Gomez heads home for Inter Miami's first goal of the night.

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There is genuine hope that Messi will be fit to start tonight.

The Argentine star returned from his near month-long injury absence at the start of the second half of Inter Miami’s match against the Colorado Rapids on Saturday and quickly turned his club’s fortunes around.

After Miami went into half-time down 1-0, Messi invigorated their attack almost instantly and scored in the 58th minute to equalize. Messi then had an assist just three minutes later too.

Expect fireworks if he does make it...

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When 33-year-old Sergio Canales lines up for Monterrey against Inter Miami’s quartet of ex-Barcelona icons, he will do so as the most expensive signing in Mexican football history.

There were several junctures when imagining glamour at this stage of his career seemed fanciful, if not impossible. None more so than on Dec. 30, 2015, when he suffered the third ACL injury of his career.

On that day his own family could not envision him playing again. Canales could, though, and nine years later he is hoping to play an integral part in overcoming Lionel Messi and company in the quarterfinal of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Canales tells The Athletic: “That day I told myself, ‘My career is not going to finish here.'” Here is how he has bounced back.

Good question.

Monterrey came from behind to beat Inter Miami 2-1 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and give themselves an advantage as they head back to home turf for the second leg.

Tomas Aviles put Messi and Co ahead but David Ruiz's red card changed the game. Four minutes later, Maximiliano Meza levelled for Monterrey, and in the 89th minute Jorge Rodriguez scored a crucial late winner to stun Tata Martino's side.

Lionel Messi was unavailable for that match - more on him later.

Or good afternoon, if you're in the US.

Or good morning, if you're somewhere in the world where it's morning.

Basically, welcome to the live blog! Michael Dominski and several of our crack reporting squad in the US will be bringing you live build-up from before the game, play-by-play updates during the match and reaction and expert analysis after.

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Here is how you can watch the game, alongside following it via this live blog too.

US: FS1 (TV), fubo (stream).

Canada: OneSoccer (TV), fubo Canada (stream).

Mexico: Fox Sports.

Argentina: Star+.

The gorgeous Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, Greater Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

Inaugurated: 2015.

Capacity: 53,500.

Nickname: El Gigante de Acero (The Steel Giant).

Home of Mexican side CF Monterrey, who play host to Inter Miami.

So. For those in the UK, the match begins at 3.30am BST in the early hours of Thursday morning.

For those in the US, that is 10.30pm ET and 7.30pm PT on Wednesday evening.

And here, we're focusing on the alliterative Concacaf Champions Cup quarter-final second leg.

Contesting the match: Lionel Messi's Inter Miami and Mexican side Monterrey.

Let's get into it.

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