‘You get to play with the greatest player in the world’ – Picault explains what makes Inter Miami special
Fafa Picault says Messi is ‘the greatest player in the world’ and working with him makes Inter Miami unique
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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Lionel Messi is healthy, rested, and will travel with Inter Miami for two road games in the next five days. But he’ll be missing one of his longtime teammates for the trip.
Inter Miami’s Luis Suarez is away from the club for personal reasons, coach Javier Mascherano said before a training session on May 9.
Inter Miami will visit Minnesota United at Allianz Field on May 10 at 4:30 p.m. ET for the first match. Then, Inter Miami will visit the San Jose Earthquakes inside PayPal Park on May 14 at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Suarez won’t be with Inter Miami for the first match, and it’s unclear whether the MLS MVP finalist from a season ago could join the club for the second road match.
The two matches will be the last trips to the Midwest and West Coast for Messi and Inter Miami for the rest of the 2025 MLS regular season.
So, soccer fans in Minnesota and San Jose were eagerly awaiting word whether Messi will make the trip. He did.
Inter Miami departed from South Florida on Friday afternoon, then will travel to California after the Minnesota match.
Both matches will be available on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
May 10: Minnesota vs. Inter Miami, 4:30 p.m. ET
May 14: San Jose vs. Inter Miami, 10:30 p.m. ET
Mascherano says Messi is ‘fine’ after recent walkoffs
Messi has been seen abruptly leaving the pitch when recent matches, including a 4-1 win on May 3 against the New York Red Bulls, have gone final – leading to some concern about his mood or spirit.
“Well, Leo is a competitive person, that’s normal. Those of us who have known him for a long time know how demanding he is – not only with himself, but with everything around him,” Mascherano said of Messi. “But yes, he’s fine.”
Inter Miami has six remaining matches to play in May before turning its attention to participating in the Club World Cup.
While the looming tournament is significant, Inter Miami knows it must get through this stretch of MLS games – especially after being eliminated in the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals by Vancouver in late April.
Minnesota is second in the MLS Western Conference with 19 points from five wins, two losses and four draws – trailing Vancouver (26 points). Inter Miami is fourth in the Eastern Conference with 21 points, trailing Columbus Crew (24), Philadelphia Union (22) and FC Cincinnati (22) in the standings.
“Minnesota is a rival that is going through a great moment. They have started the season very well,” Mascherano said. “We expect a tough opponent, as most opponents are here in MLS, especially when you have to play away from home. But anyway, I think we will be well prepared.”
- May 10: Minnesota United vs. Inter Miami, 4:30 p.m. ET
- May 14: San Jose vs. Inter Miami, 10:30 p.m. ET
- May 18: Inter Miami vs. Orlando City, 7 p.m. ET
- May 24: Philadelphia Union vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET
- May 28: Inter Miami vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m. ET
- May 31: Inter Miami vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m. ET
- June 14: Inter Miami vs. Al Alhy, 8 p.m. ET (Hard Rock Stadium in Miami)
- June 19: Inter Miami vs FC Porto, 3 p.m. ET (Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta)
- June 23: Inter Miami vs. Palmerias, 9 p.m. ET (Hard Rock Stadium in Miami)
