MLS Cup 2024: When will Lionel Messi play again for Inter Miami?

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The MLS Cup 2024 has already started and the playoff matches are currently entering its second leg of fixtures.

The Eastern Leg and Western Conference playoffs will determine the eight teams into their respective semifinals. Inter Miami topped the Eastern Conference standings after the regular season with a record 74 points.

How are MLS Cup Playoffs Played? The Format Guide

The revised Major League Soccer (MLS) playoff format introduces an expanded field of eighteen teams, evenly split across the two conferences. This alteration sees the top nine teams from each conference vying for the championship, with the first seven positions in each conference securing a direct entry into the first round.

Teams placed eighth and ninth engage in a single wild card match to earn a spot against the top-ranked team in their respective conference.

In this revamped structure, the initial round adopts a best-of-three series, favouring matches between higher-seeded and lower-seeded teams. Unlike traditional aggregate scorekeeping, this round solely relies on penalty shoot-outs to break any ties, ensuring a swift progression to subsequent rounds.

The playoff journey continues through the conference semifinals, conference finals, and culminates in the MLS Cup, all of which are single-elimination matches. These matches extend into extra time and possibly a penalty shoot-out to declare a victor if the regular time ends in a draw.

The hosting privileges within the playoffs have been distinctly allocated. The team boasting a superior regular-season record gains the right to host the match throughout the playoffs, with a singular exception during the first round's best-of-three series. Here, the lower-seeded team hosts the second match, adding a strategic layer to the series.

MLS 2024 Cup Playoffs: When will Lionel Messi play for Inter Miami again?

Lionel Messi's Inter Miami topped the Eastern Conference and are playing Atlanta United in their Best of Three series.

After a fantastic 2-1 victory in the first match of the series, Inter Miami were pegged back as Atlanta United secured a 2-1 victory themselves in the 2nd leg of the tie. As no aggregate score is kept, the current status is 1-1 for both teams. The upcoming third leg will determine the team which advances to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Lionel Messi had an assist in the first match but failed to make an impact in the subsequent clash. The third match of the tie shall take place on Saturday (November 9). By virtue of a superior finish compared to Atlanta, Inter Miami will host the crucial decider at their home ground.

Messi has so far scored 20 goals for Inter Miami this season. He was excellent for them during the regular league, in which the club won their first Eastern Conference and Supporters' Shield titles this year.

Who will Inter Miami face if they advance to EC Semis?

If Inter Miami win against Atlanta United and progress to the Eastern Conference Semis, Lionel Messi and his team will face either Orlando City or Charlotte FC in the next round.