Inter Miami and Messi host state rival Orlando City

Full name: Lionel Andres Messi Birthdate: June 24, 1987 (36) Birthplace: Rosario, Argentina Height/weight: 5-6/147 pounds Team(s): Inter Miami (2023-present), Paris Saint-germain (20212023), Barcelona (2004-2021)

The 2024 Major League Soccer season continues, as fan-favorite player Lionel Messi and Inter Miami get set for match No. 3 against Orlando City FC on Saturday, March 2, at DRV PNK Stadium in Miami, airing live on Fox and Apple TV+. And don’t miss the rest of the weekend’s MLS action, as Toronto FC takes on New England at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Sunday, March 3, also airing live on Apple TV+.

It’s only Messi’s second season with Inter Miami, and expectations are high; after the 36-year-old Argentinian native signed on with Miami mid-season last year, the club brought home its first League Cup title. With the addition of Messi’s former Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets, coach Gerardo Martino has a solid lineup at his disposal to build off the team’s tremendous end to the 2023 campaign. However, Martino is keeping things in perspective, regardless of the hype.

“I know we have an excellent team that will compete well, but we have to be aware of what this generates in our rivals,” Martino said, speaking to USA Today. “When the Wizards play Milwaukee, they play even better because they are playing against a team that has a lot of big names. We have to prepare for that. We have to move away from talking about the names and the past and focus on what we can achieve now.”

As Inter Miami looks to keep its streak going through 2024, Toronto FC is looking to significantly improve on all fronts after concluding the 2023 campaign with a 4-10-20 record and a league-worst 59 goals against.

Heading into its second regular-season match against an elite squad in New England, coach John Herdman looks to lean on the leadership of players like Jonathan Osorio and Lorenzo Insigne as Toronto aims to put the past behind it.

“The leadership group are key to that,” Herdman said. “Whether it was my time with the women’s team, my time with the men’s team, the strength of that leadership will determine how far we’re able to pioneer as a group.”

Honors and achievements: World Cup Champion (Argentina, 2022), 23x Top Goal Scorer, 8x Ballon D’or Winner, 10x Player of the Year, 10x Spanish Champion, 8x Spanish Cup, 7x Spanish Cup Winner,

4x Champions League Winner, 3x UEFA Super Cup Winner, 2x French Champion, French Super Cup Champion (2022), MLS League Cup (2023), Olympic Gold (Argentina, 2008)