Lionel Messi’s 2026 debut: Projected lineups for Alianza Lima vs. Inter Miami preseason friendly

Inter Miami kicked off their 2026 preseason only a week in the past as they put together for the upcoming Main League Soccer season. Whereas membership officers proceed negotiations for ultimate signings, the workforce will take the sector this Saturday to face Alianza Lima for his or her first pleasant of the yr, with all eyes on Lionel Messi.

Inter Miami can have a packed schedule of prep matches earlier than official competitions start in late February. The primary of those video games will happen at Estadio Alejandro Villanueva in Lima, Peru, with an anticipated attendance of round 34,000 followers.

Dealing with them will probably be one in all Peru’s most distinguished golf equipment. Alianza Lima is the second-most profitable workforce in Peruvian league historical past, with 25 titles, behind solely Universitario’s 29. In 2025, they completed third within the annual desk and reached the quarterfinals of the Copa Sudamericana.

Possible lineup for Inter Miami vs. Alianza Lima

Provided that that is the primary pleasant of the yr, only a week into preseason, and that the roster is just not absolutely finalized, Inter Miami will area a squad with a number of notable absences. Lionel Messi, nevertheless, has traveled to Peru and is anticipated to begin.

Probably the most vital absence is Tadeo Allende, a key participant in Inter Miami’s 2025 MLS title, who just lately agreed to stay with the Herons however is ready on administrative clearance to hitch the squad. A number of the latest signings, together with Luis Barraza and Micael, will even be unavailable.

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The possible XI chosen by coach Javier Mascherano is: Dayne St. Clair; Facundo Mura, Maximiliano Falcon, Noah Allen, Sergio Reguilon; Rodrigo De Paul, Yannick Vibrant, David Ayala; Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Mateo Silvetti.

Possible lineup for Alianza Lima vs. Inter Miami

For Alianza Lima, the pleasant comes at an inconvenient time. The membership is coping with an inside disaster attributable to off-field controversies which have briefly sidelined three star gamers: Carlos Zambrano, Sergio Peña, and Miguel Trauco.

Given these circumstances, coach Pablo Guede’s possible lineup is: Guillermo Viscarra; Luis Advincula, Gianfranco Chavez, Renzo Garces, Cristian Carbajal; Pedro Aquino, Jesus Castillo, Jairo Velez; Gaspar Gentile, Eryc Castillo, Paolo Guerrero.