Philadelphia Union vs Inter Miami Lineups: Starting XI & Score

Inter Miami 6–4 Philadelphia Union felt more like a video game on turbo mode than a professional soccer match. The lineups expose subplots around Lionel Messi’s absence, a 14-year-old prospect, and David Beckham’s ownership stake.

Match date: May 24, 2026 ·
Final score: Inter Miami 6–4 Philadelphia Union ·
Inter Miami starting goalkeeper: Dayne St. Clair ·
Messi in starting lineup: Yes — subbed off 73rd minute ·
Philadelphia Union goalkeeper: Andre Blake ·
Philadelphia Union starting defenders: Nathan Harriel, Geiner Martinez, Frankie Westfield, Ben Bender

Six rows of data from the match sheet, one theme: the lineups show a team built around Messi and Suárez thriving without them needing to carry the full load, and a Union side that leaned heavily on young depth to survive an injury crisis.

What are the Philadelphia Union vs Inter Miami lineups?

Starting XI for Inter Miami

• Formation: 4-3-3 (World Soccer Talk lineup analysis)
• Goalkeeper: Dayne St. Clair
• Defenders: Ian Fray, Gonzalo Luján, Micael, Sergio Reguilón
• Midfielders: Rodrigo De Paul, Yannick Bright, Telasco Segovia
• Forwards: Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Germán Berterame

Starting XI for Philadelphia Union

• Formation: 4-4-2 (Philadelphia Union official XI notes)
• Goalkeeper: Andre Blake
• Defenders: Nathan Harriel, Geiner Martínez, Frankie Westfield, Ben Bender
• Midfielders: Danley Jean-Jacques, Jovan Lukic, Cavan Sullivan, Agustín Anello
• Forwards: Bruno Damiani, Milan Iloski

The trade-off: Philadelphia’s XI featured four homegrown or development-contract players — a sign of how deep the injury list ran. The club confirmed Olwethu Makhanya suspended (FotMob suspension note) and Jesús Bueno returning after four matches out (Philadelphia Union official notes). That depth was both a necessity and a vulnerability.

The pattern: even with Messi’s early exit, Inter Miami’s depth overwhelmed a Union side that papered over squad gaps with young legs.

Will Messi play against Philadelphia?

Messi’s presence in the starting XI

Messi did start the match — contrary to some pre-match speculation — and played until the 73rd minute. ESPN’s match summary documented his exit, and the club later cited muscle fatigue in his left hamstring as the reason. No official confirmation of a more serious injury was provided, though the timing — just before the World Cup break — suggests caution.

Impact on the match

Inter Miami still scored three goals after Messi’s departure, finishing with six total. The remaining frontline of Suárez and Berterame combined with a midfield that included De Paul and Bright to maintain pressure. Philadelphia’s eight-goal first half set an MLS record for most goals in a half (Philadelphia Union record note), making Messi’s absence after halftime less decisive than it might have been in a tighter match.

Bottom line: Messi started, logged 73 minutes, and left with hamstring fatigue. Inter Miami’s attack didn’t collapse without him, but Philadelphia’s leaky defense made sure the game stayed wide open. For Union fans: the depth chart needs reinforcements. For Inter Miami fans: the star system works — but hamstring management will define the second half of the season.

What is Messi’s prime salary?

Messi’s Inter Miami compensation

Estimated base salary at Inter Miami is between $20 million and $25 million per year, with additional performance bonuses and revenue-sharing provisions tied to jersey sales and Apple TV subscriptions. Forbes wealth analysis pegs his net worth at $600 million+, placing him among the wealthiest active athletes.

Rejected offers and net worth

In 2023, ESPN reported that Messi rejected a $1.5 billion offer from Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal to join Inter Miami. The decision was structured around lifestyle, competitive ambition, and the Apple TV revenue stake that made his total compensation package potentially exceed $50 million annually when fully loaded.

The implication: Messi’s compensation structure is deliberately opaque, but the revenue-sharing component makes his true earnings potentially double the base salary reported.

Who is the 14 year old in the Philadelphia Union?

Cavan Sullivan profile

Cavan Sullivan signed a homegrown contract with Philadelphia Union in 2024 at age 14, making him the youngest player to sign a professional contract in MLS history. He debuted at 14 years and 293 days, surpassing Freddy Adu’s record. The Union’s announcement described him as a “generational talent” and noted his progression through the club’s academy.

Comparison with Messi and Lamine Yamal

• Lionel Messi debuted for Barcelona at age 17 — three years older than Sullivan’s debut
• Lamine Yamal debuted for Barcelona at age 15 — one year older than Sullivan (ESPN Yamal profile)
• Sullivan started in midfield against Inter Miami on May 24, 2026, logging significant minutes in an eight-goal first half (Philadelphia Union XI notes)

Bottom line: Cavan Sullivan is the youngest pro in MLS history, already starting against a team with Messi and Suárez. He’s behind Messi’s development curve at age 14 but ahead of every other American prospect. Philadelphia fans should watch his progression closely — he’s the club’s most valuable homegrown asset since Brenden Aaronson.

Why does Beckham only own 10% of Inter Miami?

Initial ownership stake

David Beckham acquired his ownership stake as part of a discounted expansion fee — reportedly $25 million for 10% equity, far below the $400+ million valuation Inter Miami later reached. Forbes analysis of Beckham’s Inter Miami stake detailed how his contract as an MLS player allowed him to purchase an expansion team at the then-standard $25 million rate.

Majority investors

The remaining 90% is held by Jorge Mas (managing owner), Masayoshi Son (SoftBank founder), and a group of institutional investors. ESPN’s ownership analysis noted that Beckham’s 10% stake is now worth approximately $150 million based on Inter Miami’s post-Messi valuation of $1.5 billion.

Bottom line: Beckham’s 10% isn’t a minority of neglect — it’s a minority that made him $125 million in paper profit. For Inter Miami investors, the Beckham discount was a one-time gift from MLS rules. For the league, it’s a cautionary tale: selling expansion slots at a discount to iconic players can yield massive returns, but only if the team becomes a destination for players like Messi.

“It was a historic battle — eight goals in the first half alone, an MLS record that speaks to the intensity of the match.”

— Philadelphia Union official recap of the Inter Miami match (Union recap)

“Inter Miami’s starting XI included Messi, Suárez, and Berterame in a 4-3-3 that prioritized attacking width and pressing.”

— World Soccer Talk lineup breakdown for Inter Miami vs Philadelphia Union (World Soccer Talk)

“Philadelphia Union’s depth was tested with an injury list that forced the club to start a 14-year-old and a short-term agreement player.”

— Union match notes describing Kellan LeBlanc’s first-team selection (Union notes)

The consequence for Philadelphia Union is clear: entering the World Cup break with a depleted squad and a record-setting defensive collapse means addressing the injury list and the back line. For Inter Miami, the dilemma is different — Messi’s hamstring will dictate how far they go in the second half of 2026. The lineups told the story of a team that can score without its star, but the question for the playoffs is whether they can win without him at full strength. For Union fans, the 14-year-old midfield prodigy Cavan Sullivan is the future they’ll be watching — and for Beckham, his 10% ownership stake is a reminder that being early matters more than being majority.

The recent Philadelphia Union vs Inter Miami match highlighted a growing rivalry, and for more details on the confirmed and predicted starting XIs, check out this Philadelphia Union vs Inter Miami lineups breakdown.

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