Lionel Messi is set to start as Inter Miami visit Chicago Fire looking to snap a rough patch of form. Lionel Messi is set to be in the lineup as Inter Miami visit Chicago Fire at Soldier Field on Wednesday, with the Herons looking to snap a rough patch of form that has seen them go winless in five of their last six league matches. Messi enters the match fresh off a historic achievement, having become the first player in MLS history to reach 30 goal contributions in three separate seasons, a mark he hit while setting up Casemiro’s opener in Miami’s 2-2 draw against Atlanta United in the last fixture. Despite the individual milestone, Miami‘s results have cooled considerably since their 7-1 rout of Montreal, and the club now sits 10 points behind Nashville SC in the race for first place in the Eastern Conference. Chicago Fire, meanwhile, arrive at the match sitting third in the East, five points behind Miami for second place, with a win Wednesday closing that gap to just two points and giving the Fire a game in hand on the Herons. Noche de fútbol en Chicago. 🌃⚽️ #CHIvMIA • @MarriottBonvoy pic.twitter.com/umRymoHQBL— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) September 9, 2026 Gregg Berhalter’s side heads into the match off the back of a wild 4-4 draw at Toronto, a result that featured a brace from Maren Haile-Selassie and a goal from Robert Lewandowski, who has quickly established himself as one of the most efficient scorers in MLS since his move to Chicago. Chicago Fire projected lineup Chicago could be without Jonathan Bamba, Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Andre Franco, all of whom sat out the Toronto draw with lower-body issues. Zinckernagel leads the Fire’s attack this season and will look to combine again with Lewandowski and Haile-Selassie up top. Chicago Fire projected starting XI: Chris Brady; Jeremy Dean, Carlos Teran, Rafael Czichos, Mihailo Ristic; Kellyn Acosta, Hugo Cuypers, Maren Haile-Selassie; Philip Zinckernagel, Robert Lewandowski, Georgios Koutsias. Inter Miami projected lineup Miami’s injury list remains lengthy, with Sergio Reguilon, Gonzalo Lujan, Micael and Mateo Silvetti all confirmed out for the trip to Chicago, forcing Guillermo Hoyos to once again patch together his backline and attacking rotation. Inter Miami projected starting XI: Dayne St. Clair; Facundo Mura, Casemiro, Maximiliano Falcon, Ian Fray; Rodrigo De Paul, Yannick Bright, Telasco Segovia; Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, German Berterame.
While being in the MLS, Lionel Messi has managed to be included in the 30-nominee list for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, prompting questions whether he's the only player in the league to ever be nominated. Lionel Messi secured a spot on the 30-player shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, recognized for his elite production with Inter Miami and his focal role during Argentina’s World Cup run. Earning inclusion while competing outside Europe’s top five leagues, questions arise regarding whether any other active Major League Soccer player has accomplished the feat. On Tuesday, September 8, France Football unveiled its 30-player nomination list recognizing the world’s standout performers over the past season. In a field headlined by 10 PSG players, European mainstays, and Saudi Pro League stars Julian Quinones and Sadio Mane, Messi stands as the lone MLS representative on the ballot. The nomination follows a prolific campaign with Inter Miami alongside his individual performance at the 2026 World Cup, where he led Argentina to the final with eight goals and four assists. Fresh off capturing the 2025 MLS Cup after recording 43 goals and 25 assists in 49 overall matches, Messi has maintained his dominance in 2026 with 21 goals and 11 assists through 24 matches. For the first time in the honor’s history, the Ballon d’Or ceremony will move away from Paris to take place at The London Palladium in England. With the gala scheduled for Monday, October 26 at 3:00 p.m. ET, and Inter Miami set to host FC Cincinnati on Wednesday, October 28, Messi’s personal attendance at the event remains unconfirmed. Our captain has been nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or ✨🔟 pic.twitter.com/FoenOXgPiW— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) September 8, 2026 Messi not the first MLS player to feature on the shortlist Messi previously set historic precedent by becoming the first active MLS player to win the award in 2023, though that vote primarily celebrated his 2022 World Cup triumph. His 2026 nomination, while fortified by international play, reflects a full year of dominance in MLS as the league’s reigning MVP. However, the Argentine icon was not the first player nominated for the Ballon d’Or while actively rostered in MLS. That benchmark belongs to David Beckham, who earned a nomination in 2007 after joining the LA Galaxy. Ahead of the 2007 edition, organizers at France Football modified the voting rules by expanding eligibility globally. Prior to that decision, the award was strictly limited to players competing for clubs under UEFA jurisdiction. David Beckham #23 of the Los Angeles Galaxy. (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) Beckham played a key role in helping Real Madrid secure the 2006-07 La Liga title over FC Barcelona during his final season in Spain. Upon completing his high-profile transfer to the Galaxy in July 2007, the English midfielder was named to the 50-player shortlist that Octobera , vote ultimately won by Brazilian star Kaka, while Beckham finished without receiving a vote.
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