Is Lionel Messi playing today? Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul Where to watch as Argentina icon looks set to make debut

Soccer icon Lionel Messi will make his long-awaited debut for Inter Miami CF Friday when the MLS club faces Mexico’s Cruz Azul at home in a Leagues Cup game.

After being introduced to a crowd of nearly 20,000 last Sunday at DRV PNK Stadium, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is now in line to play his first competitive game at the Fort Lauderdale stadium.

In the first leg of the Copa de la Liga, Messi’s new side face an opponent who are also in poor form, with Cruz Azul currently bottom of the Liga MX table, having lost their first three games of the domestic campaign. The Copa de la Liga is a 47-team knockout tournament that includes all MLS clubs and Mexico’s Liga MX.

Friday’s matchup could also see the debut of Sergio Busquets for Inter Miami, following the Spanish midfielder’s transfer from Barcelona earlier this month.

Lionel Messi’s debut: Where and when is Inter Miami CF vs. Cruz Azul?

This Leagues Cup fixture is set to take place at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, July 21. Kick-off is at 8 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. PT in the US and Canada. That makes it a 1 a.m. BST start in the UK and a 10 a.m. AEST kick-off in Australia on Saturday morning.

How can I watch Messi’s MLS games?

Apple TV now has a 10-year contract with Major League Soccer and is the exclusive broadcaster of all MLS games in the 2023 season, plus Leagues Cup games in most parts of the world via the MLS Season Pass service.

That means that, unlike Messi’s unveiling event last weekend, you’ll likely need a subscription to watch that game live. In addition to MLS Season Pass, Univision will also broadcast the game in Spanish.

In the U.S., MLS Season Pass costs $13 per month or $79 for the season if you already subscribe to the Apple TV Plus streaming service. If you are not an Apple TV Plus subscriber, the MLS Season Pass costs $15 per month or $99 for the season.