Lionel Messi set to play friendly in China with Inter Miami after missing MLS playoffs

Earlier this month, Inter Miami lost their chance to make the Major League Soccer playoffs set for November.

However, the club announced that it would play two friendly matches against Chinese Super League opponents.

According to reports, Messi could join the team as they travel to China to play two friendly games in November.

According to reports from the Guardian, the first game will be played on November 5 against Qingdao Hainiu and the second on November 8 against Chengdu Rongcheng. 

The friendly games announced by Inter Miami also fall on the same day as the first round of the MLS playoffs. 

Chris Henderson, the team's sporting director and chief soccer officer, was quoted in a press statement, “This will be a great opportunity to continue building on our 2023 campaign, in which we achieved our first-ever trophy.

 “We will take this as an opportunity to begin our preparations for 2024, as we look to build on last season and find more success moving forward.”

If Messi participates in the friendly, it will be at least his ninth exhibition trip to China for club or country since 2005. 

Messi signed for Inter Miami during the summer transfer window and began playing for Inter Miami in July, winning the League Cup with the team.