FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — February 25, 2025, will go down as another night when Lionel Messi reminded the soccer world why he’s still the maestro of the beautiful game. Under the lights at Chase Stadium, Inter Miami CF delivered a commanding 3-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City in the second leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup first-round matchup, securing a 4-1 aggregate win to advance to the round of 16. And at the heart of it all was Messi, pulling the strings like only he can.
The night started with a buzz in the air—Inter Miami fans knew they were in for something special. After a gritty 1-0 win in the first leg in Kansas City last week, where Messi scored the lone goal in frigid conditions, the Herons returned home with a slim lead and a chance to seal the deal. What they got was a performance that turned a tense tie into a statement.
Messi didn’t waste any time. Just past the half-hour mark, he struck. It was vintage stuff—a moment that felt like it was plucked straight out of his Barcelona highlight reel. Receiving the ball just outside the box, he took a touch—a soft, almost casual one that belied what was coming—then unleashed a curling shot with that magical left foot. Sporting KC goalkeeper Tim Melia could only watch as the ball nestled into the far corner. The crowd erupted, and you could feel the weight lift off the team. That’s what Messi does: he turns pressure into poetry.
“He’s a genius,” head coach Javier Mascherano said after the match, a grin creeping across his face. “You give him the ball, and he finds a way. It’s not just the goal—it’s how he controls the game.” Mascherano, a former teammate of Messi’s at Barcelona and with Argentina, knows better than most what the 37-year-old brings to the table. And last night, he got a front-row seat to it as Miami’s boss.
But Messi wasn’t done. Before the first half ended, he played creator, threading a pinpoint pass to Jordi Alba, who squared it for Tadeo Allende to tap in. It was the kind of play that makes you wonder how Messi sees things no one else does—like he’s got a map of the pitch in his head that updates in real time. Two minutes later, Luis Suárez pounced on a Sporting KC mistake to make it 3-0, effectively putting the tie to bed. Sure, Kansas City’s Johnny Russell pulled one back in the second half, but by then, the damage was done.
What stood out most wasn’t just the goals or the assists—it was Messi’s presence. Even at 37, even in the final year of his contract, he moves with a grace that defies age. There’s no frantic running or wild gestures; it’s all calm, deliberate, and devastating. Last night, he played 69 minutes before Mascherano subbed him off to a standing ovation, and in that time, he dictated the tempo, carved open the defense, and left Sporting KC chasing shadows.
For Inter Miami, this win is a tone-setter. After a 2024 season that saw them claim the Supporters’ Shield but crash out early in the MLS Cup playoffs, there’s a hunger to this team—a sense that they’re not just here to dazzle, but to dominate. With the Concacaf Champions Cup, MLS season, Leagues Cup, and Club World Cup all on the horizon in 2025, nights like this feel like a promise of what’s to come.
Messi finished the night with a goal and an assist, but the stats don’t tell the full story. It was the way he glided across the pitch, the way he turned defenders inside out, the way he made everyone around him better. Suárez, at 38, still has that predatory instinct. Alba and Sergio Busquets, both in their mid-30s, bring the kind of savvy that only comes with experience. But Messi? He’s the spark, the heartbeat, the guy who makes you believe anything’s possible.
Next up, Inter Miami shifts focus to the MLS season, with a road trip to Houston Dynamo this Sunday. If last night was any indication, Messi’s not slowing down—and neither are the Herons.
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