Inter Miami, the defending MLS Cup champions sitting second in the Eastern Conference with 43 points on a 12W-4L-7D record, travel to Soldier Field in Chicago to face a surging Fire squad led by summer blockbuster signing Robert Lewandowski.
Lionel Messi enters the match with 18 goals and 12 assists on the season after tallying two assists in Miami’s 2-2 home draw against Atlanta United. That performance made him the first player in league history with at least 30 goal contributions in three separate campaigns. The legendary No. 10 is eyeing a third straight Landon Donovan MLS MVP award and narrowly leads FC Dallas striker Petar Musa in the Golden Boot presented by Audi race.
Lewandowski, Poland’s all-time leading scorer who arrived from FC Barcelona, has posted 5 goals and 2 assists in his first eight MLS appearances for Chicago. The Fire sit third in the Eastern Conference with 38 points on an 11W-6L-5D record and are riding a six-game unbeaten streak, though their last three matches have ended in draws — including a wild 4-4 result at Toronto FC, where Maren Haile-Selassie scored a brace and Lewandowski contributed a goal and an assist before Derrick Etienne Jr.’s 92nd-minute goal denied Chicago all three points.
Haile-Selassie, the Swiss attacker, leads Chicago with a team-best 15 goal contributions on 7 goals and 8 assists, having scored in three straight league games. Two-time MLS All-Star and 2025 Newcomer of the Year finalist Philip Zinckernagel recently signed a contract extension making him a Designated Player, while homegrown goalkeeper Chris Brady has recorded six clean sheets this season and earned a spot on the USMNT’s 2026 FIFA World Cup squad.
Chicago’s roster overhaul reflects the ambitions of director of football and head coach Gregg Berhalter, who took over ahead of 2025 and guided the club back to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2017. Beyond Lewandowski, the Fire brought in defender Noah Allen on loan from Miami and acquired European-based reinforcements Anzor Mekvabishvili, Johan Gómez and Andreas Hanche-Olsen.
Miami’s attack extends well beyond Messi. Luis Suárez has tallied 12 goals and 8 assists, marking three straight seasons with double-digit goals for the Herons. Former Real Madrid and Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has scored in his last two games — both as a makeshift center back — while Rodrigo De Paul has produced 4 goals and 10 assists in his first full MLS season. Inter Miami are pursuing a place in history as the first back-to-back MLS Cup champions since the 2011-12 LA Galaxy, with new head coach Kily González set to take the reins in the coming days.
Chicago are favored at home with 45% of the betting market, compared to 34% for Miami and a 22% chance for a draw, as of Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. ET.