Major League Soccer will kick off its 29th season Wednesday with Argentine superstar Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami hosting Real Salt Lake.
It’s the start of 9½-month campaign that, aside from the regular season and playoffs, will feature international tournaments with MLS teams, international tournaments pulling players from MLS teams, 10 new coaches, new rules and a Dec. 7 championship game that could very well include Messi.
To get things started, here is the Starting XI of news and storylines.
Messi in full
The stand-alone season opener is a fitting way to raise the curtain because, in a league with some 800 players, Messi stands alone in his soccer abilities and drawing power.