Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami CF is set to play Atletico Nacional on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the Atanasio Girardot Stadium in Medellin, marking a historic moment for Colombian football as the Argentine superstar plays his first match for a club team on Colombian soil.
The friendly, billed as “The Match of History,” is the centerpiece of the Major League Soccer club’s pre-season international tour. The match is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. and will feature a festival atmosphere designed for families, including a “Fan Fest” in the days leading up to the kickoff.
Inter Miami enters the contest as the reigning MLS champion under the direction of head coach Javier Mascherano. The visit to Medellín is part of a “Champions Tour” in South America that includes stops in Lima, Peru, to face Alianza Lima, and Guayaquil, Ecuador, to play against Barcelona.
The match against Nacional will mark the first time Messi plays against a Colombian club
The match between Inter Miami and Atl. Nacional in Medellín represents a unique chapter in Messi’s relationship with the country. While the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has played in Colombia previously, he has never done so while representing a professional club in an official or friendly capacity.
Messi’s previous appearances in Colombia were exclusively with the Argentina national team during World Cup qualifiers, such as a 2021 draw in Barranquilla, or during a “Messi and Friends” charity exhibition in Bogotá in 2012.
The visiting roster is expected to feature high-profile international talent alongside Messi. According to reporting by Inter’s delegation, which includes Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez, Argentine world champion Rodrigo De Paul, and Spanish defender Sergio Reguilón. They will face an Atlético Nacional squad anchored by Colombian veterans David Ospina, Edwin Cardona, Matheus Uribe, and William Tesillo.
Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba will not play as they have retired
However, the Miami roster has undergone significant changes since its MLS title run. According to reporting by La Nacion, former Barcelona stars Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets have announced their retirements and will not participate. The team has reinforced its lineup with younger Argentine talents, including new signings David Ayala, Facundo Mura, and forward Tadeo Allende.
Local anticipation for the event has driven high ticket demand. According to reporting by El Tiempo, tickets were sold through the “Tribuna Verde” platform with prices ranging from 400,000 (around USD 110) to 2,000,000 Colombian pesos (around USD 540).Organizers have arranged for VIP experiences, including access to a “Lounge Camerino” that allows fans to watch the players take the field.
¡Se acerca el partido de la historia! Medellín se prepara para recibir un duelo internacional que conectará al fútbol colombiano con una de las vitrinas más mediáticas del planeta: Inter Miami CF vs. Atlético Nacional, el 31 de enero de 2026 en el Estadio Atanasio Girardot.… pic.twitter.com/L7uLoOvJm0
— Canal RCN (@CanalRCN) December 30, 2025
Ahead of the game, Atlético Nacional president Sebastián Arango said to El Tiempo, “Receiving figures who have marked the history of world football in our house is an opportunity to demonstrate that the Antioquian club is of international stature.” Following the match in Medellín, Inter Miami will conclude its South American tour in Ecuador before returning to the United States to begin its title defense in late February. Leo Messi is starting the year in top form after being named the MVP of the last MLS season, with eyes on participating in his sixth World Cup later in 2026.