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Soccer star Lionel Messi’s Barcelona pre-contract napkin on auction block
Auctioneers are calling Lionel Messi’s pre-contract with FC Barcelona, written on a restaurant napkin when he was 13, a unique part of soccer history.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Lionel Messi is in the starting lineup as he returns to action Wednesday for the first of two final appearances for Inter Miami before Copa América, which he will kick off June 20 with Argentina against Canada at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Tonight, Inter Miami hosts Atlanta United at Chase Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET, and it will be Messi’s first game since May 11.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match, and follow along here for live updates after kickoff.
Inter Miami and Atlanta begin play at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Chase Stadium. The game is available via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Yes, Messi is expected to play against Atlanta, after staying home in South Florida and missing Inter Miami’s 2-1 win at Vancouver. He’s in the startling lineup.
WATCH: Messi and Inter Miami take on Atlanta United FC on Apple TV
TICKETS: Experience Messi and Inter Miami in person when they host Atlanta United FC
SHOP: Get the latest Messi and Inter Miami team gear from the MLS Store
Inter Miami leads the MLS Eastern Conference with 34 points from 10 wins, four draws and two losses. Luis Suárez is tied for second in MLS with 11 goals scored, while Messi is third with 10 goals scored and a league-leading 12 assists this season.
Meanwhile, Atlanta is 12th among 15 Eastern Conference teams with 14 points from three wins, four draws and seven losses.
A win would increase Inter Miami’s lead in the East.
Inter Miami 3, Atlanta United 0: Messi returns to form with a goal and assist, Suárez adds another goal, and Benjamin Cremaschi scores as goalkeeper Drake Callender has a shutout. —Safid Deen, Lionel Messi reporter
Messi and his Inter Miami teammates have arrived at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for tonight’s game against Atlanta United. The players were spotted leaving their bus shortly after 6 p.m. ET.
Inter Miami is a -225 favorite at home, while Atlanta is a +380 underdog with +450 odds to draw, according to BETMGM.
Messi speaks in English, and delivers the punchline in a hilarious promo for “Bad Boys: Ride or Die.”
Messi, Luis Suárez and Sergio Busquets did not travel to Vancouver for rest purposes – to avoid the cross-continent journey from South Florida – with home games on tap tonight and Saturday, especially with Copa América on deck.
All three are expected to play Wednesday and Saturday vs. St. Louis City.
Messi is expected to play again Saturday as Inter Miami hosts St. Louis City. Then, he’ll join Argentina for Copa América training.
Messi will participate in Argentina friendlies or Copa América warmup matches in Chicago on June 9 and the Washington D.C. area on June 14.
Then, Messi and Argentina take center stage in the Copa América opener against Canada in Atlanta on June 20.
Here’s more info on Messi and Argentina’s Copa América schedule.
