One of the best players of all time – for many the greatest – will play in Colombia early next year. Lionel Andrés Messi, captain of the Argentine National Team and great figure of Inter Miami, will visit Medellín to face Atlético Nacional in a preseason friendly duel, in the middle of the American club’s tour of Latin America.
The meeting between Nacional and the current MLS champion, Called ‘Match of history’, it will be played on Saturday, January 31 at the Atanasio Girardot stadium. For both teams, it will serve as preparation for the 2026 season, in which in addition to facing local tournaments, they will play in international cups (Libertadores/Sudamericana and Concacaf Champions Cup).
“For Atlético Nacional it is an honor to be part of an event of this magnitude. It is not just a soccer match: it is a celebration of everything we represent as an institution. Nacional always wants to be with the best, always wants to compete on big stages and take on challenges that enhance our history. Facing Inter Miami and welcoming figures who have marked the history of world football to our home is an opportunity to demonstrate, once again, that Atlético Nacional is a club of international stature,” said Sebastián Arango Botero, president of the Verdolaga team.
Waiting for the resolution of your future, That friendly in the capital of Antioquia could also feature the presence of Luis Suárez, historic Uruguayan striker who will soon define whether he continues or not at Inter Miami. Unless there is a surprise, Rodrigo De Paul, Messi’s teammate, will be there in the Argentine National Team, and Javier Mascherano, coach of the American team.
The Florida club has just become champion of the Major League Soccer after beating the Vancouver Whitecaps in the final at the Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale (3-1). With the national title in the USA, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets ended their professional careers.
Lionel Messi returns to Colombia
The National duel vs. Inter Miami, in addition, It could be the last chance to see one of the best soccer players in history playing in Colombia as a professional. Messi will return to our country 4 years and 7 after his last visit.
So far, the last match that the Argentine star played in Colombian territory was on June 8, 2021, for the South American Qualifiers for the World Cup in Qatar. That day, the Tricolor and the Albiceleste tied 2-2 at the Metropolitan stadium in Barranquilla, with goals from Luis Fernando Muriel and Miguel Borja (at minute 90+4) for the local team, and Cristian ‘Cuti’ Romero and Leandro Paredes for the visitor. Lionel played the 90′.
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It is worth mentioning that, due to injury, Messi was not in the Colombia 2-1 Argentina in September 2024, corresponding to matchday 8 of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. On that occasion, Néstor Lorenzo’s team won 2-1.
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