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Lionel Messi Picks, Predictions & Odds: Magical Messi Back on Home Turf

Anthony Wootton

Last Updated: August 30, 2023 4:36 PM EDT • 3 min 10 sec read.

Lionel Messi was among the goals again as Inter Miami ended an 11-game MLS losing skid on Saturday. Check out our Lionel Messi MLS picks for Wednesday’s Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC matchup based on the odds from our best soccer betting sites.

Lionel Messi's assisting David Beckham in Miami to create a winning culture. He's scored in eight of the nine games he's played for his new club. The Argentine has 11 goals and three assists, helping the Herons win the Leagues Cup, reach the U.S. Open Cup Final, and move two places from the bottom of the Major League Soccer table.

They are a team in the hunt for the MLS playoffs, which seemed unthinkable last month. Next up is the team they beat away from home in the Leagues Cup final less than a fortnight ago. 

Here is our best Lionel Messi MLS pick for Wednesday's Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC matchup (odds via our best sports betting apps; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Lionel Messi pick: Nashville vs. Inter Miami

Messi to score 2+ goals (+270 via Caesars) ⭐⭐⭐

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Nashville SC are one of the top sides in the MLS standings right now, sitting 17 points ahead of Messi’s Miami. However, don’t let their lofty status fool you. The Boys in Gold have lost their last four matches in a row in the competition, which is a club record. During that losing run in the league, they’ve given up 10 goals, including four in their 4-0 defeat to Atlanta United last weekend. That loss was the heaviest in the club’s history. 

Including the Leagues Cup, Nashville has conceded 19 goals in 11 games. Messi scored the opener against them in the final on Aug. 20. Nashville’s overall xGA in MLS this season is 1.38, on the road it’s 1.44. 

Since Messi joined, Inter Miami have remained unbeaten. They’ve scored 27 goals during that nine-game span. Before this run, they managed 28 goals in 26 matches in all competitions to start the season. 

Miami has eliminated Nashville in both cup competitions this campaign, beating them on penalties in the Leagues Cup final less than two weeks ago, and winning the US Open Cup 2-1 in the fifth round. 

Nashville isn’t heading to south Florida with the best away record. In league matches on the road this season, the team has three wins, three draws, and seven losses. The club hasn’t won away in MLS since June 3 at Dallas and it’s leaking goals.

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Lionel Messi best odds

Caesars +270

DraftKingsFanDuelBetMGMCaesarsbet365
Messi to score 2+ goals Messi to score 2+ goalsMessi to score 2+ goalsMessi to score 2+ goalsMessi to score 2+ goals
+200+210+260+270+188

This defense is made for Messi. Even if his game time is reduced again, he is more than capable of unlocking Nashville’s backline on multiple occasions. The books know it, that’s why the odds are so low. The best value is with Caesars, whose odds are +270. This price is excellent compared to some of our other main books, especially against bet365, who has its odds at +188. 

There is little value in the anytime scorer plays. The best odds are -187 via Caesars. He’s +200 with four of our main sports books as first scorer. FanDuel has him as low as +175.

There are celebrations planned in Miami for Wednesday’s match, so the club’s savior will have a part to play. Even the best defenses in MLS can’t stop Messi right now. I can see him picking Nashville apart. 

The only reason I’m not putting four stars on this play is because we don’t know how much game time Lionel Messi will get. It should be substantial, especially in front of the home crowd. This play is there for the taking. 

Be sure to get the best odds on Lionel Messi with our DraftKings promo code, FanDuel promo code, and bet365 bonus code!

Nashville vs. Inter Miami game info

  • Date: Wednesday, Aug. 30, 7:30 p.m. ET
  • TV: Apple TV – MLS Season Pass
  • Location: DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • Weather: 84 degrees, 47% chance of precipitation, 16-mph winds

Lionel Messi MLS pick made 8/29/2023 at 1 p.m. ET.

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Written By:
Anthony Wootton
Anthony Wootton has worked in the sports industry for more than 20 years. He’s reported on Premier League games for BBC radio and continues to cover the league, as well as other high-profile soccer competitions such as the UEFA Champions League. He is a founding member of the NFL Writers Network with NFL Europe, having covered every NFL London game since 2014 and multiple Super Bowls. Anthony has also reported on the Germany games in Munich and Frankfurt. His book, "The Greatest American Football Story That Has Never Been Told", has been an Amazon bestseller for American Football and Sports History publications. He is a member of the Professional Football Researchers Association. Anthony started writing for betting companies in 2018, working with some of the world’s largest gambling sites. He is an avid bettor on soccer and football, using multiple apps as he targets the best value on props and plays. Anthony is the host of the "TransAtlantic Sports Show" podcast and runs a weekly parlay feature on his YouTube channel throughout the NFL season. He has appeared on leading international podcasts such as the BBC World Service’s Sportshour, the Nat Coombs Show, and the Irish NFL Show. Anthony holds a bachelor’s degree in media from Sheffield Hallam University.