Lionel Messi will not play in Inter Miami's MLS match against Charlotte FC on Saturday night at Bank of America Stadium, according to a source confirmed to ESPN. Head coach Javier Mascherano made the decision to rest the Argentine captain, who last played Wednesday against Nashville SC in the Concacaf Champions Cup. The choice comes as a tactical move rather than injury-related.

Messi played the full 90 minutes in Wednesday's 0-0 draw at GEODIS Park, marking his fourth consecutive start. Midfielder Rodrigo De Paul will also miss Saturday's match, joining Messi on the sidelines. Both players featured in Miami's 3-0 loss at the same venue in September 2025 when Charlotte's artificial turf was a talking point, though it won't factor into this weekend's lineup decisions.

Inter Miami currently sits with six points from two wins and one loss to start the 2026 MLS season. The team faces Nashville again on March 18 at Chase Stadium in the second leg of their Champions Cup round of 16 series. Mascherano has emphasized treating all competitions equally despite the Champions Cup's importance, stating the club cannot become obsessed with any single tournament.