The next chapter in a budding rivalry will be written on Aug. 15 as MLS leader Nashville SC hosts second-place Inter Miami and eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi.
The two sides have squared off six times in the past year across all competitions, and with Miami sitting two points behind Nashville in the race for the MLS Supporters' Shield, the stakes could scarcely get higher.
"When two teams that are at the top of the table face each other, it's such an important game for both of us," NSC's Cristian Espinoza said. "I think the team who can manage the game better will go out with the three points.
"Obviously it's always special to play against Messi, but as a professional player, we have to put that aside and try to focus on your job. It's
really, really special to play against him, but we're going to do our best to win the game."
In 12 career appearances against NSC, Messi has tortured Nashville to the tune of 16 goals and four assists. Doubt had been cast over Messi's status against Nashville after the death of his father, Jorge, on Aug. 8, but the Argentinean talisman is expected to take the field at Geodis Park.
Is Messi playing vs Nashville SC?
After scoring a pair of goals in Miami's Leagues Cup opener against San Luis, Messi missed the following cup match against Monterrey on Aug. 8, following the news of his father's death. Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos didn't put a timetable on Messi's return to action, but his absence from the field proved to be short-lived.
Messi returned to the United States this week and featured on the bench as Miami faced León in the Leagues Cup on Aug. 12, subbing on for the final 45 minutes. Like Nashville, Miami was eliminated from the Leagues Cup, with full focus now going to a race with NSC for first in the table.
How Nashville SC plans to stop Messi, Inter Miami
While Messi provides a constant threat in front of goal, he's far from the only weapon Nashville will have to contend with on the field. Since its previous meeting with NSC, Miami has bolstered its midfield in the form of Casemiro, who's furthered the South Florida side's ability to break opposing defenses from deep-lying positions.
"When you play against Miami, it's a big collective effort," NSC coach BJ Callaghan said. "Obviously it's a really talented team with special players and for us it's always about being collectively compact, hard to play through. But at the same time, I think there's opportunities when we have the ball, that we can be good and dangerous as well."
As much as NSC hopes to make Messi an afterthought, there's no denying the rarefied air that surrounds him, and the impact his emotional return to the field will have for Miami.
"When you match up two really good teams, there are a lot of different factors that go into the match," Callaghan said. "There's going to be your tactical game plan. There's going to be your technical execution. There's going to be the physical component to being able to play. And lastly, there has to be an emotional connection to the game.
"The game is an emotional game, but you have to keep it in check. It has to be used as a positive . . . you have to be able to match those in big games. And we know Saturday night will be no different."
Harrison Campbell can be reached at hcampbell@usatodayco.com and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @hccamp.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What we’re hearing about Lionel Messi playing vs Nashville SC, rumors, reports
