In a night that will go down in Inter Miami history, Lionel Messi once again proved why he’s still the king of clutch moments. Facing a daunting two-goal deficit against LAFC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals, Messi produced another masterclass performance — scoring twice and assisting once — to guide Inter Miami to a stunning 3-1 win and a 3-2 aggregate triumph on Wednesday night.
The result sends the club into the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals for the first time ever.
It was a throwback moment for football fans, as Messi lined up for a crucial penalty against none other than Hugo Lloris — the same goalkeeper he faced during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final in Qatar. Just like that night in Lusail, Messi calmly waited for Lloris to commit before casually placing the ball in the opposite direction. The goal in the 84th minute sealed the win for Miami and served as another haunting reminder for the French shot-stopper.
Before that, LAFC had looked like the stronger side, with a 2-0 aggregate lead and the away-goals advantage. But the Argentine legend sparked belief in the 35th minute with a trademark left-footed strike from the edge of the area, putting Inter Miami on the scoresheet and igniting the crowd.
Inter’s momentum grew in the second half. In the 61st minute, Noah Allen slotted home after a defensive miscommunication from LAFC. Messi had delivered a smart ball into the box toward Federico Redondo, but a mix-up at the back allowed the ball to trickle in untouched.
A third goal looked to have arrived via Luis Suárez’s header off another Messi cross, but it was disallowed for offside after a quick VAR check. However, Inter Miami didn’t give up. In the final minutes, a handball review gave them a penalty — and Messi did what Messi does. With nerves of steel, he stepped up and converted, putting the game to bed.
“We fought until the last minute,” said Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano. “This was a moment we dreamed of — to make it to the semifinals — and tonight the team showed real heart. Of course, Messi was magical again.”
Next up for Inter Miami will be a semifinal clash against either Vancouver Whitecaps or Pumas later this month. But on this night, it was once again Lionel Messi stealing the spotlight — rewriting history and continuing his dominance over Hugo Lloris in the most poetic way possible.
