Lionel Messi has had a storybook debut for Inter Miami CF.

After coming on the field as a second-half sub in his first game for Miami, Messi buried a free kick for the winning goal in stoppage time in the Leagues Cup opener against Liga MX's Cruz Azul. Four days later, Messi scored two goals as Miami trounced Atlanta United 4-0.

Those performances helped Miami win its Leagues Cup group and advance to the knockout rounds of the 47-team tournament.

Messi Mania marches on Wednesday night, when Inter Miami hosts Orlando City SC in a Leagues Cup Round of 32 game at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Will the ⚽🐐 create more viral moments?

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Here's everything you need to know about Messi in the Leagues Cup:

When is Lionel Messi playing?

Messi and Inter Miami play against Orlando City in a Leagues Cup knockout game on Wednesday, Aug. 2 at 8 p.m. ET. The winner will face either FC Dallas or Mazatlán in the Round of 16 (to be played Aug. 6-8).

If Inter Miami is bounced from the Leagues Cup, it will have an extended break until the MLS regular season resumes on Aug. 20.

How to watch Lionel Messi in Leagues Cup

The Inter Miami-Orlando City game can be streamed live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

What to know about Orlando City SC

Orlando City is in its ninth season in Major League Soccer. The Lions have made three playoff appearances (2020-22) and collected their first trophy in last year's U.S. Open Cup. The team currently sits in fifth place in the Eastern Conference.

The team has its own in-form goal-scorer in Duncan McGuire, who netted two goals in Leagues Cup play. McGuire — the sixth overall selection in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft out of Creighton — has eight goals and two assists in 19 games played (nine starts). Facundo Torres is dynamic on the wings and will ask questions of the Miami defense. Looking to keep Messi from scoring goals will be Pedro Gallese, a Peru national team player who is one of the league's top goalkeepers.

In the Leagues Cup, Orlando City produced a dramatic moment of its own in a 3-2 win over Liga MX's Santos Laguna.

What are the Leagues Cup Round of 32 matchups?

Wednesday

  • Inter Miami CF vs. Orlando City SC at DRV PNK Stadium, 8 p.m. ET
  • FC Dallas vs. Mazatlán at Toyota Stadium, 9 p.m. ET
  • Houston Dynamo FC vs. Pachuca at Shell Energy Stadium, 9 p.m. ET
  • Los Angeles FC vs. Juárez at BMO Stadium, 10:30 p.m. ET

Thursday

  • New England Revolution vs. Atlas at Gillette Stadium, 8 p.m. ET
  • Philadelphia Union vs. D.C. United at Subaru Park, 8 p.m. ET
  • New York Red Bulls vs. New York City FC at Red Bull Arena, 8 p.m. ET
  • UNAM Pumas vs. Querétaro at Audi Field, 8 p.m. ET
  • Charlotte FC vs. Cruz Azul at Toyota Stadium (Frisco, Texas), 8:30 p.m. ET
  • Real Salt Lake vs. Club León at America First Field, 10:30 p.m. ET

Friday

  • Columbus Crew vs. Minnesota United at Lower.com Field, 8 p.m. ET
  • FC Cincinnati vs. Nashville SC at TQL Stadium, 8 p.m. ET
  • Chicago Fire FC vs. Club America at SeatGeek Stadium, 8 p.m. ET
  • Sporting Kansas City vs. Toluca at Children's Mercy Park, 9 p.m. ET
  • Portland Timbers vs. CF Monterrey at Providence Park, 10 p.m. ET
  • Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Tigres UANL at BC Place, 10:30 p.m. ET

All Leagues Cup matches will be streamed live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

What is the remaining Leagues Cup schedule?

Round of 16 (Aug. 6-8)

  • Los Angeles FC-Juárez winner vs. Real Salt Lake-Club León West 2 winner
  • Vancouver Whitecaps FC-Tigres UANL winner vs. Portland Timbers-CF Monterrey winner
  • Columbus Crew-Minnesota United winner vs. Sporting Kansas City-Toluca winner
  • Chicago Fire FC-Club America winner vs. FC Cincinnati-Nashville SC winner
  • Philadelphia Union-D.C. United winner vs. New York Red Bulls-New York City FC winner
  • UNAM Pumas-Querétaro winner vs. New England Revolution-Atlas winner
  • FC Dallas-Mazatlán winner vs. Inter Miami CF-Orlando City SC winner
  • Charlotte FC-Cruz Azul winner vs. Pachuca-Houston Dynamo FC winner

Quarterfinals (Aug. 11-12)

Semifinals (Aug. 16)

Third-place game (Aug. 19)

Final (Aug. 19)

What is Inter Miami's remaining 2023 schedule?

  • Aug. 2: vs. Orlando City (Leagues Cup), 8 p.m. ET
  • Aug. 20: vs. Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Aug. 23: at FC Cincinnati (U.S. Open Cup), 7 p.m. ET
  • Aug. 26: at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Aug. 30: vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Sept. 3: at Los Angeles FC, 10:30 p.m. ET
  • Sept. 9: vs. Sporting Kansas City, 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Sept. 16: at Atlanta United, 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Sept. 20: vs. Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Sept. 24: at Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Sept. 30: vs. New York City Fc, 7:30 p.m.
  • Oct. 4: at Chicago Fire FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
  • Oct. 7: vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Oct. 21: at Charlotte FC, 6 p.m. ET

Where can I watch Lionel Messi with Inter Miami?

With the exception of the U.S. Open Cup semifinal game on Aug. 23 (which will be available to stream on the CBS Sports Golazo Network), all other Inter Miami games are available to watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

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