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Is Messi Playing Tonight? Time, How to Stream

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Lionel Messi is returning to action with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner limited to limited minutes when Inter Miami takes on Atlanta United at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Wednesday night.

Will Messi start and leave early? Will Messi come off the bench? Or will Messi even play in Atlanta?

Here’s the answer: Messi is not in the starting lineup and is not listed as a substitute for tonight’s match against Atlanta United.

Messi’s former Barcelona team-mate is also out of action, with Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba coming on as substitutes, while Sergio Busquets is absent after picking up multiple yellow cards.

USA TODAY Sports has live updates from tonight’s game here.

Atlanta United’s match against Inter Miami kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time (8:30 p.m. Argentina) and will be broadcast via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

It is the second of three games for Inter Miami in a week, prompting coach Tata Martino to impose a possible time limit on the Argentine world champions.

After Inter Miami plays in Atlanta, Messi and the club will take on New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Saturday.

Messi made a convincing comeback with two goals and an assist in a 3-1 win over Philadelphia on Saturday – his first match since the Copa America final on July 14, which Argentina won after injuring his right ankle ligament.

“Leo is fine, he finished the game well. Tired, of course,” Martino told reporters on Tuesday. “It’s the first 90 minutes in a long time, but it ended very well. He’s going to travel to both games. He’s available, but there are three games this week that include travel, so we have to take it day by day.”

Messi says he was ‘very happy’ after return

Messi scored in the 26th and 30th minutes and provided an assist for Luis Suarez in the 98th minute. In his first match since July 14, Messi played a long distance.

“To be honest, I’m a little tired, the humidity and the heat of Miami don’t help,” Messi said in a post-match interview with Apple TV. “But I really wanted to come back, I had been away from the pitch for a long time. Little by little I started training with the group, I felt good and that’s why we decided to let me start. I’m very happy, very satisfied.”

Messi shirts top MLS rankings for second straight season

Messi’s Inter Miami jersey has once again topped the MLS list for best-selling shirts, the league announced on Tuesday. His former Barcelona running mates were also high on the list: Luis Suarez (2nd), Sergio Busquets (11th) and Jordi Alba (15th).

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