But now he is set to come up against his boyhood club in a preseason friendly with Inter Miami in mid-February.

The Miami Herald are reporting that the Herons are planning a home clash with Newell’s as a warm-up to the new MLS season.

Lionel Messi, pictured in training on Wednesday, and Inter Miami will play his boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys in a friendly next year

Messi (center, playing for the team as a youngster) dominated with Newell’s back in Argentina

Inter Miami coach Tata Martino has also both played and managed Newell’s so it will be an emotional reunion for him, too.

Inter Miami and Messi will have a short break before gearing up for next year, with preseason training to begin on January 10.

Inter Miami, who did not qualify for MLS‘ playoffs, were scheduled to play a pair of postseason friendlies in China.

However, the tour was called off, leading the club to organize an exhibition vs. New York City FC for this Friday.

The game, billed as ‘Noche d’Or,’ will commemorate Messi’s eighth Ballon d’Or win last week.

Messi pictured wearing a Newell’s shirt to pay tribute to the late Diego Maradona in 2020

The Argentine beat out the likes of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe to win the award.

While his domestic season is over, he is expected to participate in World Cup qualifiers for Argentina this month.

La Albiceleste face Uruguay on November 16 and Brazil on November 21.

The Herons have not played a competitive match since their 1-0 loss to Charlotte on October 21.