Lionel Messi STARTS vs. LA Galaxy as Inter Miami eyes second straight MLS win to start 2024... with Luis Suarez also in the XI despite injury scare in season opener

Lionel Messi starts for Inter Miami in Sunday's road game at LA Galaxy - with Luis Suarez also included in the XI despite suffering an injury scare in the team's opening-night win.

Messi and the rest of Tata Martino's squad were pictured arriving ahead of the game in Los Angeles, which kicks off at 9pm ET.

Martino has picked a strong team - featuring Messi, Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba - as Miami eyes a second-straight win to start the season. 

Inter Miami is the favorite to win this year's MLS Cup and Messi shone as Martino's team kicked off the campaign with a 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake.

Suarez picked up an assist in the victory but the ageing striker was seen limping towards the end of the game. That sparked fears over his health heading into Sunday's game.

Lionel Messi starts for Inter Miami at LA Galaxy - with Luis Suarez also included in the XI

Messi smiles as he makes his way into Dignity Health Sports Park for Sunday night's game

But Martino was always confident the 37-year-old would be available for the game. 

'We are just starting to compete. Hopefully they will all be fine by Friday and whoever is ready will travel,' he said earlier in the week. 

Shortly before the team arrived on Sunday, Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham was seen back at his former home.

Beckham spent five years as a Galaxy player at the back end of his career, helping the club win two MLS Cups before heading to Paris Saint-Germain. 

This weekend he is battling against his old club as Miami looks to make it two wins out of two this season.

Beckham was seen arriving at Dignity Health Sports Park a few hours before kickoff, signing autographs, posing for photos and walking on the very turf he used to ply his trade on over a decade ago.