Messi and Inter Miami will challenge the top scorer of Major League Soccer
Lionel Messi has 14 goals, but Nashville star Sam Surridge leads that list with 16. The two will face each other in another MLS matchday.
Inter Miami will host Nashville, led by English striker Sam Surridge, this Saturday in Matchday 22 of the MLS, a date also marked by one of the league's great classics: the Ohio derby between Cincinnati (leader) and the Columbus Crew, known as 'Hell is Real'.
Lionel Messi, who has 14 goals in the MLS and is on a spectacular run with four braces in his last four league matches, will face Sam Surridge, the league's current top scorer with 16 goals.
Nashville arrives in Miami in excellent form, second in the Eastern Conference with 41 points, one behind the leader, Cincinnati, and qualified this week for the semifinals of the US Open Cup after defeating DC United 5-2.
The Tennessee team has five consecutive victories, counting MLS and US Open Cup.
Inter Miami, meanwhile, is fifth in the Eastern Conference with 35 points, although with three games less than the leaders, after its notable performance in the FIFA Club World Cup, where it was the only MLS team to advance past the group stage.
In addition to Inter Miami-Nashville, this weekend will see a high-voltage 'Hell is Real' match, with Cincinnati, led by Brazilian Evander (12 goals), hosting Columbus Crew, led by Uruguayan Diego Rossi (10 goals), fourth with 38 points.
In the Western Conference, the leader, debutant San Diego, visits Chicago also this Saturday. In their first season in the MLS, the Californians, with Hirving 'Chucky' Lozano in their ranks, are being the revelation of the tournament.
In other notable duels, the San Jose Earthquakes of Colombian Cristian Arango (10 goals) and Venezuelan Josef Martinez (8 goals) visit Minnesota, while Dallas of Argentine Luciano Acosta visits Los Angeles FC.
Austin, coached by Valencian Nico Estevez, receives the New England Revolution of his countryman Carles Gil and Ecuadorian Leonardo Campana.
For its part, The reigning MLS champion, the Los Angeles Galaxy, in a deep crisis of results, hosts DC United after achieving its second victory of the season last weekend (3-0 against Vancouver) in 21 matches played.