Lionel Messi’s goal helped Inter Miami advance to the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals, showcasing his undeniable impact on the field. Even before Messi and his team arrived in Jamaica on Wednesday for their round of 16 second leg against local club Cavalier FC, the Herons were already on a promising path to the next stage of the tournament.
Inter Miami, with Messi observing from the sidelines in casual attire to manage his load, secured a solid 2-0 victory in the first match of the two-legged series last week in South Florida. When Luis Suárez converted a penalty to extend the aggregate score to 3-0 in the first half of Thursday’s return leg in Kingston, coach Javier Mascherano had little reason to call upon the 37-year-old superstar.
However, Messi’s presence in Jamaica was significant, as fans packed the National Stadium eager to witness the GOAT in action during his inaugural visit to the Caribbean nation, home to approximately 3 million residents. Their anticipation was rewarded when Messi took the field for the final 35 minutes, making a memorable impact by scoring Miami’s second goal of the match and his fourth of the tournament in stoppage time, sending the jubilant crowd home with smiles.
This goal marked Messi’s third in just five competitive outings this season. Earlier this month, Mascherano opted to rest him during an MLS regular season match against Houston, and he remained an unused substitute in last week’s narrow 1-0 victory over Charlotte FC.
Looking ahead, it remains uncertain if Messi, who claimed the MLS MVP award last season, will participate when the Herons return to league action this Sunday against Atlanta. Following that match, he will join Argentina’s national team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying games against Uruguay on March 21 and rival Brazil four days later.
Unless sidelined by injury, Messi is expected to play a crucial role for Miami when the regional championship resumes next month. The Herons will face fellow MLS competitor LAFC in the two-legged Champions Cup quarterfinals, with the semifinals set to conclude in May. The highest remaining seed will host the single-game final on June 1, adding further excitement to this thrilling tournament.
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Lionel Messi
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CONCACAF Champions Cup
