Will Lionel Messi feature in MLS' Inter Miami's clash against Chicago Fire today?

The Chicago Fire are all set to host Inter Miami in a Major League Soccer (MLS) encounter on Sunday, April 13 at the Soldier Field stadium. The fans are eager to know the availability status of Lionel Messi, whether he starts against Chicago Fire or not.

Will Lionel Messi play against Chicago Fire?

Both the teams have played eight matches so far in the clubs history. Sunday's match will be the ninth overall as Inter Miami have three wins, four losses and one draw against the Chicago Fire.

The Inter Miami are fresh off a 3-1 victory over LAFC. The Herons returned to MLS, where they held on to a 1-1 draw against Toronto FC in their most recent match. Inter Miami are currently fourth in the Eastern Conference with 14 points to their name.

Messi has been one of the key players for the Inter Miami but his fitness over the last two months has been scrutinized. His latest minor adductor muscle injury prevented him from playing for Argentina in the month of March. Despite his absence, he still remains the top scorer for Herons this season as he has 8 goals across competitions.

In the past two years, Messi has missed this fixture but this time around, it won't be the same. Both Messi and Inter Miami are in great form after their 3-2 aggregate win over LAFC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals. They have secured a spot in the semifinals and will take on Vancouver.

Chicago Fire head coach Gregg Berhalter spoke on Messi before the match and said,

I expect Messi to be fully playing. He's a guy that wants to compete. He has done well at Soldier Field. Soldier Field's a great stadium, an iconic stadium ...guys like that, you know, they play in games. That's what they do.

It is expected that Lionel Messi will start the game against Chicago Fire. He featured for full 90 minutes against LAFC. Four games within few days represent workload for the Argentine, especially when he recovers from his injury.

Miami's coach Javier Mascherano mentioned that Messi, Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets are likely to play against Chicago Fire if they are fully fit. He said,

If they are feeling fine, they will play…By feeling fine, I mean 100 per cent physically and mentally. If any of them are not, they will rest, but our idea is to put the best out there.

When and where to watch Chicago Fire vs Inter Miami clash?

The kick-off time for the Chicago Fire vs Inter Miami clash is 4:30 pm ET. Viewers in the USA can stream the Chicago Fire vs Inter Miami game live on Apple TV.