Lionel Messi plays entire game for Inter Miami in 1-0 loss as Charlotte qualifies for MLS playoffs
Despite return of Messi, Inter Miami’s season comes to end
In Inter Miami’s season finale on Saturday night, Lionel Messi played the entire game on artificial turf in front of a crowd of 66,101 at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium, which has a seating capacity of 74,000. The match held significance for Charlotte FC as they aimed to secure a spot in the MLS playoffs, adding to the excitement surrounding the event. Many fans in attendance proudly wore “Messi 10” jerseys, highlighting the Argentine superstar’s immense popularity.
Despite the game being inconsequential for Miami, who had already been eliminated from playoff contention, Messi was the main attraction. Having recently led Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner showcased his skills throughout the match. He took three shots and had two scoring opportunities. Unfortunately, an offside call nullified Messi’s apparent goal in the 49th minute, and his shot in the 62nd minute struck the crossbar.
During his time with Miami this season, Messi scored 11 goals in 14 matches. However, the team struggled in their final six league matches, failing to secure a win (three losses and three draws). Overall, since his arrival in mid-July, Miami had four wins, four losses, and four draws in the league.
Messi, who had scored twice for Argentina in their 2-0 World Cup qualifying win against Peru just a few days prior, did not address the media after the game. Throughout his half-season stint with the team, he had only one media availability on August 17.
On the other hand, Charlotte FC delivered a memorable performance for their fans. The second-year franchise needed a victory over Miami and favorable results from other matches to secure one of the two remaining playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. With wins for the Chicago Fire and CF Montreal earlier in the day, Charlotte’s victory sealed their place in the playoffs.
Kerwin Vargas’ goal in the 13th minute proved to be the decisive moment, and Charlotte’s defense held strong to prevent Miami from scoring as they have done in several late-game situations this season.
Charlotte FC is poised to secure the second-highest league attendance for the 2023 season, with an average of 33,634 spectators entering Saturday’s regular-season finale. Coach Christian Lattanzio attributed this remarkable turnout to the presence of Lionel Messi in the city. Lattanzio expressed his pride in his team, emphasizing their ability to compete on equal footing with the world’s best players.
Looking ahead, Messi is scheduled to represent Inter Miami CF in two exhibition matches in China on November 5th and November 8th. This foreign tour will mark the first time Inter Miami CF embarks on such an endeavor. Following the tour, Messi will have a brief respite before Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers on November 16th and November 21st. Subsequently, Messi should enjoy an extended break before joining Inter Miami CF for their preparations ahead of the 2024 season.
Gerardo Martino, the coach of Inter Miami CF, acknowledged that his team concluded the season fatigued due to their demanding schedule. Despite winning one out of three tournaments, Martino refused to use exhaustion as an excuse, recognizing it as the reality they faced.