Messi set for Argentina return in friendly match

Inter Miami are reportedly set to face River Plate in a pre-season friendly in Buenos Aires on January 19, 2027, a fixture that could bring Lionel Messi back to Argentina's Estadio Monumental, according to Argentine newspaper La Nación.

The two clubs have reached an initial agreement to stage the match at River Plate's home ground, the report said. If confirmed, it would be Inter Miami's first appearance on Argentine soil.

The Monumental holds special significance for Messi, who played his final match for Argentina at the stadium. River Plate honoured him with an honorary membership, a commemorative plaque and a special jersey before the game.

The proposed fixture would also mark Messi's second club-level meeting with River Plate. He previously faced the Argentine side in the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup final, when Barcelona won 3-0 in Japan.