Lionel Messi could play his first club match in Argentina on January 19, 2027, as River Plate and Inter Miami negotiate a preseason friendly at the Estadio Monumental.
The fixture would bring the forward back to Buenos Aires after his farewell appearance for the national team. Inter Miami head coach Cristian González acknowledged the ongoing talks following his side’s 3-3 draw against Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer.
“For me that situation is almost confirmed,” González said, as reported by Olé.
Discussions between the two clubs remain active, with organizers targeting the second half of January for the exhibition match. While Clarin.com reported that club officials in Núñez maintain caution regarding the announcement, a third-party promoter is actively coordinating the event as part of the American club’s wider preparation plans.
The planning for Inter Miami, whose team takes on Columbus Crew in the first round of the MLS playoffs, also incorporates a planned tour to Asia and the United Arab Emirates. River management must finalize their own preseason schedule and coaching setup before signing off on the date, while management in Núñez has discussed the prospect since before the player’s final international appearance at the venue.
“It is a very strong possibility,” González told La Nación. “Obviously it is always good to compete with Argentine teams, like River in this case. Although there is still a long way to go to reach that moment.”
The planned visit to Buenos Aires forms part of a broader tour that could also include fixtures in Asia and the United Arab Emirates. River management must finalize their own preseason schedule and coaching setup before signing off on the date.
If the fixture proceeds, it will mark the first time Messi plays a club match on Argentine soil. Throughout his professional career with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami, the Rosario native has never played an official or friendly club fixture inside the country.
His previous appearances in Argentina have been limited to international duty, youth football with Newell’s and Abanderado Grandoli, and special testimonial matches such as Juan Román Riquelme’s farewell at La Bombonera and Maxi Rodríguez’s tribute at the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa. Additional appearances in his home province included two matches for the Fundación Pupi Zanetti at the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa.
The Monumental holds special significance for the player, who played 29 matches for the national team at the venue, scoring 20 goals and contributing 11 assists without suffering a defeat. During his farewell speech to the crowd, he recalled that the celebration following the World Cup in Qatar was the happiest moment of his life, specifically referencing the match against Panama.
The advancement of talks with River effectively cools recent speculation linking Messi with a move to Newell’s in January. Supporters in Rosario had harbored hopes of a return to his boyhood club, but the forward remains under contract with Inter Miami through 2028.
Organizers are evaluating whether Inter Miami might also arrange an additional fixture against Newell’s during the trip, though no official agreement has been reached for a second match.
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