Inter Miami vs Red Bulls: Messi starts hunt for fourth straight win
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Lionel Messi is set to start as Inter Miami visit Red Bull New York on Saturday night.
- Miami have won three games in a row and sit second in the Eastern Conference.
- Kickoff is at 5:30 PM ET at Sports Illustrated Stadium, live on Apple TV.
Inter Miami play Red Bull New York on Saturday, October 24, 2026. The big question before the game was simple. Will Lionel Messi play?
LiveScore reported that Messi is set to start. The game kicks off at 5:30 PM ET.
That is 2:30 AM PKT on Sunday for fans in Pakistan. The game takes place at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey. Fans around the world can watch it live on Apple TV.
What happened
Miami travel north in red hot form. They have won three games in a row. They beat Atlanta United 3-1 on October 17.
They beat New York City FC 2-0 on October 14. They beat DC United 4-0 on October 10.
Captain Leo Messi scored twice in the Atlanta win. German Berterame scored the third goal in that game. The win kept Miami rolling at the right time.
Miami now hold a record of 15 wins, five losses, and 10 draws. That gives them 55 points from 30 games. They sit second in the Eastern Conference standings.
Miami also lead the league in goals scored. They have scored 73 goals in 30 league games. That is nine more than the next best team.
No team in MLS scores more often than Miami right now.
Messi leads that attack. He has scored 25 goals this season. That is the most goals by any player in the league.
He also has 15 assists, tied for the league lead.
Messi won two big awards last season. He was named the MLS Most Valuable Player. He also won the Golden Boot as top scorer.
His form this season shows why he won both.
Will Messi play tonight
Messi flew to Spain a few days before the game. He went there to receive the Princess of Asturias Award. Fans then asked if he would make it back in time.
LiveScore reported that Messi is set to start the game. The report said he leads the league in both goals and assists. It also called him the front runner for the Most Valuable Player award.
A projected lineup from World Soccer Talk backs that view. It puts Messi up front with Luis Suarez and German Berterame. It puts Rodrigo De Paul, Casemiro, and David Ayala in midfield.
Dayne St. Clair starts in goal in that projected team.
These lineups are projected, not confirmed. Teams can still change them before kickoff. But all signs point to Messi starting the game.
Why it matters
A fourth straight win would keep Miami in top form. Miami are chasing the top of the East. They want to finish as high as they can.
Every point matters at this stage of the season.
LiveScore noted one key fact about the playoff race. Miami are not among the four teams that can seal a playoff spot this weekend. That means the race goes on for Miami.
They must keep winning to stay in control.
The game also matters for the home team. Red Bull New York sit ninth in the East. They have 10 wins, 14 losses, and six draws.
That gives them 36 points from 30 games.
New York have lost their last two league games. They lost 0-2 to Toronto FC last Saturday. They lost 1-2 to DC United on October 14.
A win against Miami would stop that slide fast.
Julian Hall leads the New York attack. The 18 year old forward has scored 11 goals this season. He has played 29 games for the club.
Miami must watch him closely all night.
New York also create a lot of chances. They took 66 shots in their last three games. That is the most shots by any MLS team in that span.
Twenty three of those shots were on target.
Head to head record
Saturday brings the 14th meeting between these clubs. The series is tied at six wins each. One game between them ended in a draw.
Miami have the recent edge in this fixture. They are unbeaten in the last four meetings. They won three of those games and drew one.
The two sides met earlier this season in April. That game ended in a 2-2 draw. Miami will want a clear win this time.
History says this game is often close. New York have won three of their last five home games against Miami. They lost the other two games in that run.
Home form gives New York some hope here.
How to watch
Kickoff is set for 5:30 PM ET on Saturday. Apple TV carries the game in English and Spanish. Red Bulls Radio also covers the game in English.
Fans can find that feed through the Red Bulls app and website.
Miami fans will watch Messi first. He is the main reason this game trends each week. His goals and assists drive this team forward.
New York fans will watch their young attack. Hall leads a side that shoots often and presses hard. The home crowd can lift a team that needs a result.
The game also links to a wider MLS story. Miami are the league top scorers this season. New York are a team that creates chances but loses games.
Attack meets attack in Harrison on Saturday night.
What happens next
The result will shape both playoff races. A Miami win extends their run to four games. It keeps them second in the East and full of belief.
A New York win changes their story at once. It ends a two game losing run. It also gives them three vital points at home.
A draw helps neither side as much. Miami would still sit near the top. New York would still chase the playoff places.
Either way, the season moves on fast from here. Miami must keep their star fit and firing. New York must turn shots into goals and points.
For now, all eyes sit on one man. Messi traveled to Spain and came back to lead his team. He starts the hunt for a fourth straight win on Saturday night.
Miami fans can read our earlier Inter Miami playoff night report for more on this team. New York fans can read our Red Bulls at DC United report for more on the home side. For wider league form, see our [St.
Louis City unbeaten streak report](/sports/st-louis-city-mls-record-unbeaten-streak/).
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