Lionel Messi might return to his home country early in 2027 to play his first-ever club match in Argentina. The Inter Miami star recently played what appeared to be his final international fixture in Buenos Aires, scoring his 126th goal in 208 appearances during a 3-0 victory against Benin.
Pre-Season Match Against River Plate
Inter Miami is heavily favored to face River Plate at the Estadio Monumental in January. Inter Miami head coach Kily Gonzalez, who is Argentine, verified the information after his team concluded the regular season with a 3-3 draw against FC Charlotte. As reported by 101 Great Goals, Gonzalez stated that the scenario is nearly finalized and represents a very strong possibility, adding that competing against Argentine squads like River is always beneficial despite the time remaining before the event.
Career Milestone and MLS Success
Should the fixture against River Plate receive official confirmation, the match is expected to happen during the latter half of January. This timing aligns with Inter Miami’s preparations for the shortened 2027 Major League Soccer campaign, scheduled to run from February through May.
The 39-year-old forward recently secured the MLS Golden Boot for the second consecutive year after concluding the 2026 season with 26 goals and 17 assists. He finished comfortably ahead of runner-up Petar Musa from FC Dallas with 22 goals and Sam Surridge from Nashville with 21 goals.
Inter Miami will now shift focus to the play-offs and a first-round matchup against the Columbus Crew. The defending champions face a tough challenge against a Columbus squad that enters the post-season after winning eight of their previous nine fixtures.
