Inter Miami has reached the third round of the Leagues Cup at the expense of Mexican side Necaxa. Lionel Messi was unable to play a major role in the cup thriller, which saw two red cards and ended in a penalty shootout (3-2).
Things went wrong early in the match for Lionel Messi, casting a shadow over what should have been a celebratory night for Inter Miami.
The 38-year-old Argentine legend, who continues to be the heartbeat of the team even in the twilight of his career, sat down on the pitch just minutes after kickoff, clearly in discomfort. Messi signaled to the bench that something wasn’t right, prompting immediate concern from teammates, staff, and fans alike. Medical personnel rushed onto the field, and after a brief assessment, it became evident that he was dealing with a muscle issue in his right upper thigh. Despite initial hopes that he might continue, it was quickly confirmed he could not. In just the 11th minute, Messi was substituted his face revealing a mix of frustration and worry. With the Leagues Cup knockout rounds looming, his injury could have major implications for Inter Miami’s campaign.
Yet, football moves quickly. Just sixty seconds after Messi’s departure, Inter Miami managed to seize control of the match at least briefly. Venezuelan midfielder Telasco Segovia stepped up in a moment of brilliance. After receiving a well-placed pass from Rodrigo De Paul, the 22-year-old curled a spectacular shot into the net from outside the box, giving Miami a 1-0 lead. The goal electrified the home crowd, momentarily lifting the mood that had been dampened by Messi's injury. For Segovia, it was a defining moment his first major goal in a high-stakes match, and a testament to the potential Miami saw when they signed him.
The joy didn’t last long, though. Inter Miami was soon down to ten men after defender Maximiliano Falcón received a straight red card for a reckless challenge. The decision, while controversial among the home supporters, was upheld after a VAR review confirmed the seriousness of the foul. This setback tilted the momentum in favor of Necaxa, who didn’t take long to exploit their numerical advantage. Argentinian forward Tomás Badaloni capitalized on a lapse in Miami’s defensive structure and slotted home the equalizer, making it 1-1.
The game became increasingly physical and tense, with both sides aware that a place in the third round of the Leagues Cup was on the line. The midfield turned into a battleground, and tempers began to flare. Rodrigo De Paul, making his debut for Inter Miami after his high-profile move from Atlético Madrid, played a crucial role in holding the team together. His leadership and composure were vital, especially as the match descended into a gritty, stop-start affair full of fouls and tactical fouling.
After the break, Necaxa looked more comfortable in possession, and Miami’s fatigue from playing a man down began to show. But just past the hour mark, the playing field was leveled again literally. Necaxa's Cristian Calderón was shown a straight red card for a dangerous challenge on De Paul. The referee, under pressure from both benches, went to the monitor and confirmed the decision after reviewing the incident. Both teams were now down to ten men, and the match became wide open.
Despite the setback, Necaxa continued to press forward and found what they thought was the winning goal in the 80th minute. Substitute Ricardo Monreal, who had only been on the pitch for a few minutes, latched onto a loose ball in the box and buried it past Drake Callender to give the Mexican side a 2-1 lead. Necaxa’s bench erupted in celebration, and for a moment, it seemed that Inter Miami’s night was headed for disappointment.
But Inter Miami showed resilience in adversity perhaps spurred by Messi’s early exit and the need to rally in his absence. In the second minute of stoppage time, they were awarded a free kick near the corner of the penalty area. Rodrigo De Paul, already the standout performer of the night, took responsibility. With precision, he delivered a lofted ball into the box, where veteran left-back Jordi Alba despite standing just 1.70 meters tall timed his jump perfectly and directed a powerful header into the bottom corner. The crowd erupted. Miami had equalized in dramatic fashion, 2-2, sending the match to penalties.
The shootout was tense and emotional. Both teams converted their early penalties, but Necaxa faltered on their fourth attempt, with Callender diving low to make a brilliant save. That set the stage for Luis Suárez, another former Barcelona teammate of Messi and Alba, to seal the victory. Calmly and confidently, Suárez stepped up and slotted the final penalty into the corner, giving Inter Miami a 3-2 win in the shootout and securing their place in the third round of the Leagues Cup.
While the victory brought joy to the home supporters and showcased the growing chemistry among Miami's new signings, the mood was still mixed due to Messi’s injury. Post-match, manager Gerardo Martino confirmed that Messi would undergo scans to determine the extent of the muscle problem. "We’re hopeful it’s not serious," he said. "But we’ll know more in the next 24 hours. Obviously, he’s incredibly important to us not just on the pitch but in the locker room."
Inter Miami will now prepare for their next Leagues Cup fixture, with momentum and belief but also a cloud of uncertainty hanging over their biggest star. The team’s fightback without Messi showed grit, but the club and its fans will be anxiously awaiting good news from the medical team.
