Messi and Suárez scored in Miami’s 3–1 win, but the Argentine was substituted after suffering an injury that will rule him out of Miami’s next MLS game.
Lionel Messi scored a goal and provided an assist as Inter Miami defeated Nashville 3–1 in the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup round-of-16 match before leaving the field with a leg injury.
Messi passed the ball to his former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez, who opened the scoring in the eighth minute. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner then scored in the first half to give Inter Miami an early 2-0 lead on Wednesday night.
The Argentina great was substituted in the 50th minute and coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino later revealed that Messi was suffering from a minor foot injury that had begun to bother him during the game, so as a precaution He was removed.
“He has an overload in his right rear,” Martino said through a translator. “We tried to see if he could carry on (in the game), but it was bothering him so we thought it was better to take him out of the game.”
Messi was rested during Sunday’s 3-2 loss to Montreal, the only game he has missed this season.
Martino said Messi would likely miss the team’s Major League Soccer (MLS) match against D.C. United on Saturday.
“I don’t want to risk it,” Martino said.
On Wednesday, Messi was replaced by Robert Taylor, who scored in the 63rd minute to give Inter Miami a 3-0 lead.
Inter Miami advanced to the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals with the win and a 5–3 lead in total goals in the series.
The search for the cup continues 🏆⏳#MIAvNSH pic.twitter.com/7l1hV3XiA7
– Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) 14 March 2024
‘No one can do what he can do’
Messi had an immediate impact on the game.
Just four minutes into the match he was awarded a free kick after a foul by Nashville’s Aníbal Godoy, but his effort was blocked. The 36-year-old took his opportunity a few minutes later and used his impressive vision to deliver a pass to Suarez, who sent the ball into the bottom right corner of the net.
Messi then used a pass from Diego Gomez to score from inside the penalty area and the fans started chanting his name. Taylor later got on the board with a header off an assist from Suarez.
“Lionel Messi himself was very sharp in the first 15 minutes,” Nashville coach Gary Smith said after the match. He was asked his thoughts when he saw Messi walk off the field at the start of the second half.
“First of all, thank God,” Smith joked. “He has a huge influence on the rest of the group. Yes, they have other very good players, but there is no one who can do what he can do. … Glad to see him go, I honestly thought his performance dropped off, and that gave us a little boost.
Inter Miami are currently in the midst of a busy month that has included seven matches – four of which have taken place in the space of 10 days. Messi is expected to join the Argentina national team for two Copa America warm-up matches on March 22 and 26.
