- Oct 16, 2026
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SportsMafia Wire graphic. Team logos and player headshots via ESPN.
Lionel Messi will rejoin Inter Miami for Saturday's match against the New York Red Bulls after traveling to collect a sports honor in Oviedo, Spain.
The forward arrived in Oviedo on Thursday, where hundreds of fans lined the street to welcome him. Messi, who became the first individual football player to receive the Princess of Asturias award for sport when the honor was announced in June, told supporters the recognition made his dad happy.
Inter Miami head coach Cristian "Kily" González said he has the number one player in the world.
The club sits second in the Eastern Conference with 55 points through 30 games and has already secured an MLS playoff berth with four regular-season matches remaining. The defending MLS Cup champions will host FC Cincinnati at Nu Stadium on Wednesday following the trip to the Red Bulls.
Source: ESPN - Fri Oct 23, 1:33 PM ET
Written by the SportsMafia Wire desk in our own words from the original reporting (AI-assisted, checked against the source).