Saturday was going to be one of the most anticipated games in Atlanta United history. With Messi in town, over 65,000 tickets were sold with the cheapest seat in the house going for $125.

Those lucky enough to score tickets woke up Saturday to unfortunate news: Lionel Messi will not be playing on Saturday.

After missing last weekend’s game for Inter Miami while on international duty for Argentina for 2026 World Cup qualifying, the 36-year-old superstar was expected to return to the lineup for today’s game.

Here is everything we know about why that is no longer the case and when Messi fans can expect to see him back on the pitch.

MORE: All of Messi’s goals with Inter Miami

Why isn’t Messi playing today?

The good news for Inter Miami fans is that Messi is not injured.

Early reports indicate that Saturday is a healthy scratch for Messi as he rests up for a busy home stretch.

Following the Atlanta game Inter Miami will play six matches in 18 days with the U.S. Open Cup Final and five MLS matches. Inter Miami then has a week off before playing the final two fixtures on the regular season schedule on October 18 and 21, both against Charlotte FC.

After scoring for Argentina last Saturday in the World Cup qualifier against Ecuador, Messi then did not play in last Tuesday’s game in the extreme altitude at Bolivia. With Messi missing Saturday’s game against Atlanta, he will have at least 10 full days of rest between games which should make him fresh for the final stretch.

When will Messi return? Inter Miami schedule

Although not yet confirmed, the most likely date for Messi’s return is Wednesday, September 20 at home against Toronto. 

Inter Miami’s remaining schedule in MLS play is a jam-packed one, as the club must make up league games postponed to accommodate for their deep runs in the Leagues Cup and U.S. Open Cup tournaments.

Inter Miami still have remaining matches against the likes of Atlanta United, NYCFC, Charlotte FC (2x), and the Chicago Fire, all of whom they sit behind in the playoff race.

The club must also navigate around the U.S. Open Cup final which takes place Wednesday, September 27 at home against Houston Dynamo, further adding to the congested fixture list.

Will Inter Miami make the MLS playoffs? Updated standings, playoff race

Could Messi’s absence on Saturday come back to haunt Inter Miami in its last ditch playoff push?

While Inter Miami clobbered Atlanta United 4-0 in Leagues Cup play way back on Messi’s first start for his new MLS club and won 2-1 back in May prior to Messi’s arrival, today’s hosts have engineered some good form of their own, with seven points from four matches against quality opponents since that Leagues Cup exit.

MORE: How many games is Lionel Messi missing for Inter Miami?

This is no walk in the park for Inter Miami which surely needs to leave Atlanta with at least one point. In order to make the playoffs, Inter Miami must finish at least ninth in the Eastern Conference standings.

They currently sit just six points back of the final playoff spot with eight games remaining in their regular season schedule.

The eight remaining matches provides them a maximum of 24 possible points remaining with which to put pressure on their playoff rivals, but they would need some help from those around them as well to make up ground. In that regard, Inter Miami also hold at least one, sometimes two, game(s) in hand on the rest of the clubs ahead of them.

Table updated as of Friday, September 15

Atlanta United vs Inter Miami projected lineups

After missing a whopping eight players last weekend for international duty, Inter Miami will be back at full strength — minus Messi — for this trip to Atlanta. Robbie Robinson could be the man drafted into cover him.

There was one injury concern that cropped up during the international break, as young midfielder Diego Gomez picked up a thigh injury while training with Paraguay, and the length of his absence has not yet been made known.

Corentin Jean, Ian Fray, and Franco Negri are all recovering from ACL tears and out for a while, and Gregore continues to push for his own return from a long-term foot problem.

• Inter Miami projected starting lineup (4-3-3): Callender (GK) — Yedlin, Kryvtsov, Miller, Alba — Cremaschi, Busquets, Arroyo — Robinson, Campana, Taylor.

Atlanta United did not have to sweat the fitness of Thiago Almada through the international break, after the youngster was not called up by Argentina. He will remain the sole focal point for the Atlanta attack here.

The only injury issue for the hosts is with midfielder Osvaldo Alonso who is sidelined with a knee problem. Machop Chol is close to a return from his hamstring injury, getting minutes with the reserve side.

• Atlanta United projected starting lineup (4-4-2): Guzan (GK) — Lennon, Robinson, Abram, Wiley— Sosa, Sejdic, Wolff, Almada — Giakoumakis, Lobzhanidze.

Atlanta United vs Inter Miami live stream, TV channel

Soccer fans looking to catch Messi back in MLS action can watch Atlanta United vs Inter Miami with MLS Season Pass ib Apple TV+.

Fans can sign up for MLS Season Pass for $14.99 USD per month or $29 USD for the rest of the 2023 season

What time does Atlanta United vs Inter Miami kick off?

This MLS match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium kicks off on Saturday, September 16 at 5 p.m. local time in Atlanta.

Here’s how that time translates across some of the major territories: