Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will kickstart their 2025 campaign with a high-profile friendly against Mexican giants Club America at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium on January 18. The match marks a significant milestone as former Argentina and Barcelona legend Javier Mascherano makes his managerial debut for the MLS side.
The exhibition match promises to be a spectacular affair, featuring Miami’s constellation of soccer stars including Messi, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez, and Jordi Alba, all of whom have confirmed their commitment to the club for the upcoming season. Suarez, the latest addition to this illustrious quartet, recently penned a one-year extension, solidifying Miami’s formidable attacking arsenal.
This preseason fixture represents more than just a warmup match; it symbolizes the dawn of a new era under Mascherano’s leadership. The former Barcelona midfielder, who shared the pitch with Messi during their glory days at Camp Nou, steps into the coaching role following Tata Martino’s departure for personal reasons at the conclusion of the 2024 season. Mascherano’s appointment on a three-year contract signals Inter Miami’s long-term vision for success.
The choice of Club America as the opening opponent adds considerable intrigue to the fixture. The Mexican powerhouse currently stands on the brink of securing their third consecutive Liga MX title, holding a narrow 2-1 advantage heading into the second leg of the Mexican final. Their participation in this friendly will serve as a crucial preparation phase before they commence their Liga MX campaign.
Inter Miami’s decision to schedule such a challenging opponent demonstrates their ambition to test themselves against elite competition. The match will provide valuable insights into how Mascherano’s tactical approach might differ from his predecessor’s, and how he plans to utilize the wealth of experience at his disposal.
The friendly also comes at a time of transition for Inter Miami’s roster. The club is preparing for significant personnel changes, with promising attacking midfielder Diego Gomez already confirmed to be departing for English Premier League side Brighton in January. This transfer activity suggests that the club’s management is actively working to reshape the squad according to Mascherano’s vision.
For Messi, who transformed Inter Miami’s fortunes upon his arrival, this friendly represents another opportunity to showcase his enduring brilliance in American soccer. His presence, along with fellow Barcelona veterans Busquets, Suarez, and Alba, has elevated Miami’s profile to unprecedented heights in global football.
The selection of Allegiant Stadium as the venue adds another layer of prestige to the occasion. The state-of-the-art facility in Las Vegas, known for hosting major sporting events, provides an appropriate stage for what promises to be a compelling clash between North American soccer powers.
The timing of the friendly allows both teams to fine-tune their strategies before their respective domestic campaigns begin. For Inter Miami, this match will serve as a crucial building block as they aim to improve upon their previous season, which ended in disappointment with a first-round playoff exit against Atlanta United.
As the 2025 MLS season approaches, scheduled to commence in either February or March, this high-profile friendly will offer fans and analysts alike their first glimpse of Mascherano’s tactical philosophy and how he plans to maximize the potential of his star-studded squad. The match against Club America represents not just a preseason friendly, but a statement of intent from a club determined to establish itself among soccer’s elite.
The convergence of such prominent figures from both North and South American soccer in Las Vegas sets the stage for what could be one of the most intriguing preseason matches in recent memory, as both clubs look to begin their 2025 campaigns on a positive note under the bright lights of America’s entertainment capital.
