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Inter Miami face Atletico San Luis in their 2026 Leagues Cup debut, and many are wondering whether Lionel Messi will be available for this match. Inter Miami open their 2026 Leagues Cup campaign on Wednesday, August 5, hosting Atletico San Luis at Nu Stadium, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The Herons arrive unbeaten in their last seven MLS matches, while San Luis is still searching for its first win of the Apertura 2026 in Liga MX. For this crucial game, Lionel Messi will start. The Argentine returned from the World Cup off the bench in Inter Miami’s 2-2 draw against Columbus Crew last weekend, and coach Guillermo Hoyos will now hand him his first start since the tournament, alongside Rodrigo De Paul, who is also in the lineup after working his way back from international duty. Hoyos will have to make do without two key attacking pieces for the opener. Luis Suárez is unavailable for the entire tournament, serving the first match of a six-game Leagues Cup suspension stemming from his conduct in last year’s final against Seattle Sounders. Germán Berterame is also out, still recovering from the hard collision he suffered against CF Montreal that required an overnight hospital stay, leaving Mateo Silvetti as the likely option to partner Messi up front. Es hoy. Vamos Miami. 😤⚔️ #MIAvASL pic.twitter.com/7u1HpUfhIz— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 5, 2026 Inter Miami confirmed lineup With Suárez, Berterame and also Tadeo Allende, who is recovering from knee surgery, ruled out for this match, Hoyos will feature a very different attack, but with Messi as starter. This is Miami’s confirmed starting XI: Ríos-Novo; Caicedo, Fray, Silva, Allen; Bright, Casemiro, De Paul, Segovia; Messi, Pinter. Atletico San Luis confirmed lineup Atletico San Luis arrive in a very different moment. The Mexican side has yet to find its footing in the Apertura, and this Leagues Cup opener gives them a chance to salvage some momentum against a strong Miami side. This is San Luis’ confirmed starting XI: Sánchez; Bambu, Álvarez, Águila; Torres, Salles-Lamonge, Macías, Esteves; Rodríguez, Flores, Llorente.
Born and raised in Colombia, star forward Julián Quiñones is now a crucial weapon for Mexico at the 2026 World Cup, where he has established himself as an undisputed starter under manager Javier Aguirre. As co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup alongside the United States and Canada, Mexico are eager to put together a deep, historic run on home soil in front of their passionate fans. To achieve that, El Tri are relying heavily on dynamic forward Julián Quiñones to spearhead the team’s attack. Despite becoming a central figure for the Mexican national team, Quiñones’ backstory is highly unique. The striker was not born in Mexico; instead, he was born and raised in Magüí Payán, Colombia, spending his childhood there before moving to Mexican soil to jumpstart his professional career. In 2015, at just 18 years old, Quiñones signed with Liga MX giants Tigres UANL. Mexico quickly became his second home. Over the next eight years, the forward bounced between various Mexican clubs—including Venados, Lobos BUAP, and a historic back-to-back championship run with Atlas—before cementing his superstar status with Club América. Having lived, worked, and excelled in the country continuously for nearly a decade, Quiñones officially checked all the legal boxes to seek Mexican citizenship. In October 2023, he received his naturalization papers, officially making him a Mexican citizen. Julian Quinones #16 of Mexico celebrates a goal vs South Africa at the 2026 World Cup. (Getty Images) Quiñones earned his lock-solid spot on Javier Aguirre’s World Cup roster for one very concrete reason: his blistering goalscoring form. The forward closed out the 2025–26 Saudi Pro League season with an astonishing 33 goals in 31 matches for Al-Qadsiah, a spectacular tally that saw him win the Golden Boot ahead of elite world-class stars like Ivan Toney and Cristiano Ronaldo. How did Quiñones become eligible for Mexico? Under FIFA’s eligibility rules, holding a country’s passport is not always enough to represent them internationally. A player must also meet specific criteria regarding residency or lineage, and they cannot have played in a competitive, senior-level international match for another country. Quiñones fit the bill perfectly. Because he lived in Mexico continuously for more than five years after turning 18 and never made a competitive appearance for Colombia’s senior national team, he cleared every FIFA hurdle required to change his international allegiance. Quiñones rejected playing for Colombia In the summer of 2023, the Colombian Football Federation reached out to Quiñones regarding a potential call-up to their senior squad. While the forward initially considered representing his birth country, he ultimately chose to commit his international future to Mexico—a decision he made as a profound token of gratitude to the country that gave him everything as a player.
Gilberto Mora is one of Mexico’s brightest hopes for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Mexico have the opportunity—and the pressure—to deliver a strong showing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as one of the tournament’s three host nations. To do so, they will rely on the talent of their top players, including Gilberto Mora. The attacking midfielder is the youngest player ever to represent Mexico at a FIFA World Cup, at just 17 years old. Born on October 14, 2008, he has already showcased his talent and influence on the field in a short professional career, earning a spot in the 26-man squad selected by head coach Javier Aguirre. Mora made his professional debut for Club Tijuana in August 2024 against Santos Laguna before turning 16 years old. That achievement made him the third-youngest player to debut in Liga MX history, behind Victor Manon and Martin Galvan. He immediately made an impact, recording an assist in his first appearance. Standing just 5-foot-6 (1.68 m), Gilberto is known primarily for his close control with his right foot and outstanding technical ability. He also stands out for his vision and ability to orchestrate his team’s attacks, a rare trait for a player of his age. Gil Mora playing for Club Tijuana. Since his debut in 2024, Mora has made 53 official appearances for Club Tijuana across Liga MX and Leagues Cup competition. In those matches, he has recorded 10 goals and two assists. During the most recent season, 2025-26, the midfielder scored six goals and added one assist in 20 appearances. Gilberto Mora’s journey with the Mexico national team His performances at club level earned Gilberto Mora an early opportunity with the Mexico national team. He represented the country at every youth level from the U-15 team through the U-20 side, with whom he competed at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where they were eliminated by Argentina in the quarterfinals. Mora made his senior national team debut on January 16, 2025, becoming the youngest player in Mexico history to achieve that feat. Since then, he has made nine appearances in official matches and friendlies, recording one assist. He was also part of the squad that won the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, starting all three knockout-stage matches. How much is Gilberto Mora worth? Gilberto Mora quickly demonstrated the talent and potential to become a future superstar, attracting interest from several European clubs. In that context, Club Tijuana took an important step regarding his future. On June 9, 2026, they signed Mora to a new three-year contract, while also granting him a significant salary increase and handing him the club’s No. 10 jersey. According to reports, the deal also included a €20 million release clause designed to facilitate a future move to Europe.
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