FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Lionel Messi could only lay down on the pitch, hands up in the air in disbelief, after he was challenged by two defenders and tripped to the ground. About a minute later, Luis Suarez missed a shot directly in front of the net that could have given Inter Miami a victory.
Messi teed off on shot after shot – 10 of Inter Miami’s 20 on the night – until one finally went in. His goal in the 67th minute, followed by an Iron Man celebration directed toward his kids in the stands, helped Inter Miami secure a 1-1 tie with Charlotte FC Saturday night to stay out in front in the MLS Supporters’ Shield race.
Messi was still not happy, chirping at the referees and receiving a yellow card at the end of the match at Chase Stadium following his final sequence on the ball. Messi, the 37-year-old Argentine World Cup champion, was likely upset about being tripped up from behind after his run toward the net.
Still, Messi was able to deliver, four games into his injury return as he continues to regain his form before the MLS playoffs begin.
Inter Miami will next face the Columbus Crew, the reigning MLS champions, on Wednesday in a match that could decide the MLS Supporters’ Shield. If Inter Miami wins, it would be the club's second title of the Messi era after their Leagues Cup crown last year, and clinch home-field advantage through the MLS playoffs.
"I wish this were a 34-date tournament and the one that scores the most points would be the champion. Then this would be fabulous, we see it with good eyes, to be the best team of the regular phase. But the truth is that we would all feel very empty if we do not fight for the championship," Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said after the game.
"So, yes, we have a very important game (Wednesday at Columbus), but even so, the remaining games – Toronto and New England – will also be important and decisive games. I think we will surely be in the fight until the last matchday."
Inter Miami has 65 points in the MLS standings following the draw, needing seven points in its final three matches to win the regular season title. The LA Galaxy has 58 points, Columbus has 57 points, and FC Cincinnati has 56 points after Saturday’s games.
Saturday marked Messi’s fourth game since he returned from his Copa America ankle injury, which sidelined him for 2½ months this summer.
Martino said Messi needs the playing time to get into better game shape before the MLS playoffs, and believes he will achieve it with a slate of club and national games in the next month.
“Leo is going to get better and better as he adds 90 minutes,” Martino said. “Obviously, Leo does not need to do differentiated physical work in training, but he needs a rhythm of competition, which gives me the idea that he is going to reach the playoffs very well because in addition to the games with us he has the games with the Argentinian national team. So, we have high hopes that he will come into the playoffs in very good shape."
Messi will have five games before the MLS playoffs begin: Inter Miami's final three games, with two Argentina World Cup qualifying matches.
After the Columbus match, Inter Miami will play at Toronto next Saturday. Messi joins Argentina for a road game in Venezuela on Oct. 10 and a home match against Bolivia on Oct. 15. And Inter Miami will host the New England Revolution in the regular-season finale on Oct. 19.
If Inter Miami wins its remaining three games, it would finish with 74 points – which would break the 73-point record mark set by the Revolution in 2021.
After VAR review, it was determined Charlotte FC defender Adilson Malanda's foot, not his hand, touched the ball while he challenged a running attack toward the net by Inter Miami’s Diego Gomez.
The call denied Inter Miami, and Messi, a chance for a decisive penalty kick.
Lionel Messi has been lining up his shot all night long, and he finally delivered with a left strike that sneaked into the lower left side of the net to help Inter Miami tie this match in the 67th minute.
Messi, in perhaps his most engaged sequence full of aggressive dribbling, could not do much with a header he received from Jordi Alba from close range in front of the net.
Charlotte’s Karol Świderski ricocheted a pass through the middle of the net past Inter Miami goalie Drake Callender to take a 1-0 lead in the 57th minute of this match.
Lionel Messi is visibly upset at his latest miss, a left boot from the penalty box area that was saved by goalie Kristijan Kahlina.
Just a bit outside: Messi’s left boot appeared on target, but winded up just outside the right side of the net in the 36th minute.
Lionel Messi delivered a stellar pass in stride to Luis Suarez, who was unable to score his right boot in the 34th minute. Inter Miami has been on the attack early, but unable to convert.
Lionel Messi had a straightaway run toward the net, but he was unable to put enough power behind his left boot. It was saved by goalie Kristijan Kahlina.
The Inter Miami match against Charlotte FC begins at 7:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. Argentina) and can be streamed on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
Yes, Messi will be in action for Inter Miami tonight vs. Charlotte FC.
Messi is in Inter Miami's starting lineup for tonight's match. Here are the lineups for both clubs:
Martino seemingly confirmed Messi would join the Argentina national team for two matches in October during the FIFA international window.
Argentina will play in Venezuela on Oct. 10 at 5 p.m. ET, and host Bolivia on Oct. 15 at 8 p.m. ET.
It will be Messi’s first games with Argentina since winning their second straight Copa America title earlier this summer.
Before Messi can rejoin his national team, he could help Inter Miami win its second title with wins Saturday vs. Charlotte and Wednesday at Columbus Crew.
Inter Miami, the 2023 Leagues Cup champion, might be catching Columbus Crew at the right time: The match will be The Crew’s fifth match in two weeks.
The Crew lost to Club America after a 1-1, 5-4 penalty shootout at home last Wednesday in the Campeones Cup, a battle between reigning MLS and Liga MX champions.
Columbus traveled to the White House on Friday to celebrate their 2023 MLS Cup, and will face D.C. United on Saturday night.
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