Will Lionel Messi play in Inter Miami's pre-season friendly against Allianza Lima Today?

Inter Miami begin their pre-season campaign against Peruvian club Allianza Lima on Saturday (January 24).

This is the first preseason game taking place on January 24, 2026, at Estadio Alejandro Villanueva (also known as Matute) in Lima, Peru.

This marks the start of Inter Miami's "Champions Tour," a series of four preseason friendlies in South America to prepare for the 2026 MLS season opener on February 21 against Los Angeles FC. Inter Miami, coming off an MLS Cup win and featuring new signings like potential Designated Player Germán Berterame, aim to test themselves against high-level South American opposition. The Mexican striker is a new addition to the MLS side, and they will be hoping for a positive start.

Alianza Lima, led by veterans like 42-year-old Paolo Guerrero, recently dealt with fan unrest over player misconduct allegations, leading to suspensions and heightened security for the match.

The game is significant as Inter Miami's first outing under coach Javier Mascherano in this tour, with subsequent matches against Atlético Nacional, Barcelona de Guayaquil, and Independiente del Valle.

Will Lionel Messi Play against Allianza Lima?

Lionel Messi has travelled with the Inter Miami squad to Peru. The club released images of Messi practising with the likes of Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, the trio who made a trip to India last month. As per the expectation, Lionel Messi is expected to participate in the match as captain of Inter Miami against the Peruvian club.

Although it is not known whether Messi will start the match, the Argentine is expected to play some minutes on the day.