Lionel Messi will be available for Inter Miami's Major League Soccer season opener against LAFC after recovering from a hamstring strain. The Argentine superstar missed several weeks of training following an injury sustained during a preseason friendly against Barcelona SC in Ecuador on February 7.

Messi's availability comes as a significant boost for Inter Miami, who enter the 2026 campaign as defending MLS Cup champions after defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2025. The team has rescheduled their final preseason friendly against Independiente del Valle to accommodate Messi's recovery timeline.

The 37-year-old forward has returned to full training with the squad and will travel to California for Saturday night's match. Inter Miami faces a demanding schedule in 2026, competing in the MLS regular season, Concacaf Champions Cup, Leagues Cup, and Campeones Cup while attempting to defend their league title.