Lionel Messi will aim for another achievement in his remarkable career on Saturday as he leads Inter Miami against Charlotte FC.
Messi seeks his 900th career goal, placing him alongside Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players to reach this milestone.
He also hopes to help Inter Miami (2-1-0, 6 points) secure a third consecutive league victory. Charlotte (1-1-1, 4 points) recently claimed its first win of the season by defeating Austin 3-1 last Saturday.
In their last match, Messi and his team were unable to score, drawing 0-0 with Nashville in the first leg of their Round of 16 series in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
A significant concern for Inter Miami is the health of defender Maxi Falcon, who left the match early with a knee injury. His return date is uncertain, and he will not play on Saturday.
“We don’t yet know the severity of Maxi’s injury; he will need testing,” said Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano. “We hope it’s minor, but his early exit signals an issue. We wish him a quick recovery.”
Charlotte’s Pep Biel faced injuries during the MLS playoffs last season but has performed well this season. He scored three goals in three league matches, including two in the win over Austin. Biel almost completed a hat trick, but a handball disallowed his third goal.
“I’m very happy with my two goals; the third was so close,” Biel said. “I’m glad to support the team.”
Saturday’s game marks the second of five straight home matches for Charlotte as they aim to gather points and improve their standing in the Eastern Conference.