Is Lionel Messi playing today? Inter Miami star starts in El Salvador preseason friendly

Lionel Messi's club Inter Miami begins their 2024 global preseason tour with a friendly against El Salvador in the Caribbean nation on Saturday.

Inter Miami's preseason tour will see them travel more than 23,000 miles around the world, visiting El Salvador, Hong Kong, Japan, and Saudi Arabia before finishing the trip domestically in Dallas.

After taking the last two months off, Messi is in the squad for the preseason tour, along with other Inter Miami superstars including new signing Luis Suarez.

The 36-year-old was his usual brilliant self last season after joining the MLS club, but suffered an injury down the end of the season, which brought into question his ability to stay fit across a full campaign's crowded fixture list. With his first complete season with Inter Miami nearing closer, the conversation will be about how to manage his minutes to keep him fit for the most important fixtures.

Fans can live stream the friendly against El Salvador free in English on MLSSoccer.com or in Spanish on MLSes.com.

MORE: Full Inter Miami preseason schedule prior to 2024 MLS season

Will Lionel Messi play for Inter Miami in friendly vs El Salvador?

Lionel Messi is starting for Inter Miami in the club's first preseason friendly of the year against El Salvador on Saturday. It was believed unlikely that he would start the match given the need to ramp players up for full match fitness, but indeed he is in the club's XI for Saturday.

With Messi and his teammates just returning from their offseason break, they will almost surely be eased into full match action, and almost surely won't play more than 45 minutes.

Also starting are Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and new signing Luis Suarez amidst a very strong lineup from Inter Miami manager Tata Martino.

"We have a responsibility to make sure the fans feel well represented on the field when our big stars aren't playing," said Martino prior to the start of preseason.

"If the fans know that for different reasons Leo [Messi] won't be there, or Busi [Sergio Busquets] won't be there, or Jordi [Alba], but we will have a very competitive team, that is an important message."

Inter Miami squad for El Salvador friendly

All Inter Miami's top stars are officially in their squad for the friendly against El Salvador, but will need time to ramp up into full match fitness after nearly two months off.

First-choice goalkeeper Drake Callender is notably absent as he takes part in USMNT January camp, potentially starting in the friendly against Slovenia on Saturday.

Also absent is the club's most recent offseason signing, defender Nico Freire who joined from Brazilian club Palmeiras just days ago, too soon to make the trip with the rest of the team.