Houston Dynamo coach Ben Olsen would not be drawn on whether Lionel Messi is the greatest footballer of all time ahead of facing his Inter Miami side this weekend.

The Dynamo started their 2025 MLS campaign with a 2-1 defeat to FC Dallas last week, and they face the unenviable task of taking on the Supporters' Shield holders on matchday two.

Messi often finds himself compared to fellow icon Cristiano Ronaldo for the title of the 'GOAT', but Olsen was reluctant to give his view on Friday.

"Oh, I don't care, I root for one team and that's the Houston Dynamo. He is a remarkable player," Olsen said of Messi.

"It's been unbelievable to see what he's done throughout his career and what he's done to this league."

"We have to try to get after their weaknesses and deal with some of their strengths," Olsen continued. "They've got a lot of strengths but also areas that we think we can exploit.

"It's a tall task but it's one the guys are up for and certainly our job as a staff right now is to give them as much information to make sure they're prepared.

"They are maybe the best team in the league, certainly they were last year."

Reports had suggested Miami coach Javier Mascherano could rest Messi on Sunday, after the Herons beat Sporting Kansas City 3-1 in the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Wednesday.

But the former Barcelona defender says that decision has not been made, telling reporters: "Leo is fine, he will train normally like all his team-mates.

"We played in a knockout round. We started the season in Kansas, where the Champions League is an important competition for us.

"We also had the start of the MLS between the two games of the tie. It is one of the competitions where we aim to compete and reach the highest possible level.

"When we talk about being able to rotate the players, we must see the context. The context is that we had to play three games in six days."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Houston Dynamo – Amine Bassi

Bassi scored Houston's goal against Dallas last week, having recorded three goals and six assists in regular-season play last year.

No Houston player could match that latter tally, or his figure of 7.47 expected assists (xA).

Inter Miami – Lionel Messi

Messi assisted Miami's equaliser after 99 minutes and 24 seconds as they drew with New York City FC last weekend. 

It was the second deepest into stoppage time Messi has been involved in a goal in his club career, after scoring a match-winning penalty at 102:52 against Espanyol in LaLiga in September 2008.

Messi recorded 11 assists in 22 regular-season games last year, creating 47 chances for his team-mates.

MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW

Houston's 2-1 loss to Dallas in last week's season opener was just their second defeat in their last 13 regular-season home matches (five wins, six draws). 

The Dynamo have not lost consecutive home league games since doing so in July and August 2022.

Miami equalised in the 10th minute of second-half stoppage time in their 2-2 draw with New York City last week. 

Last season, they recovered 31 points from losing positions, five more than any other team in a single MLS campaign in the last 20 years.

Houston have won three straight matches against Miami after losing the teams' first-ever meeting in October 2020, including a 2-1 victory in the 2023 US Open Cup Final in the last game between the teams. They should put up a fight against the Supporters' Shield holders.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Houston Dynamo – 37%

Inter Miami – 36.7%

Draw – 26.3%