It had the potential to be Lionel Messi’s biggest match with Inter Miami. Instead, it turned into their worst match together.
Messi and Inter Miami barely had an answer – even after the soap opera of drama they found themselves in with LIGA MX powerhouse Monterrey during this Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal.
The first leg was about the feisty locker room complaint. The second leg saw Monterrey destroy Messi and Inter Miami in Mexico.
Monterrey scored three goals, including two early in the second half, to win 3-1 at BBVA Stadium in Guadalupe, Mexico, on Wednesday night, ending Inter Miami’s hope to win a second championship in the Messi era.
Monterrey advances to the semifinals of the Champions Cup, and will face the reigning MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew, which beat Tigres UANL in comeback fashion Tuesday. The Crew is the only MLS team remaining in the tournament.
“Today’s defeat takes away our dream of being able to move forward and replicate what Columbus did yesterday in Monterrey,” Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said. “In this instance, the team with the best squad in Mexican soccer [won].”
Inter Miami vs Monterrey highlights
So, what’s next for Messi and Inter Miami after the Champions Cup loss?
Messi’s focus will be set on gearing up for Copa America 2024 this summer. The Argentine star will captain the reigning World Cup and Copa America champions when the tournament begins in June.
And Inter Miami’s focus? Make sure Messi, 36, is fit and healthy, in prime shape and not overworked, so he can shine with Argentina, perhaps for the final time in a major international tournament.
Messi will likely join Argentina for two warmup matches before Copa America on June 9 in Chicago, and June 14 in Landover, Maryland.
Argentina begins Copa America group play against Canada on June 20 in Atlanta, then plays Chile on June 25 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, before taking on Peru on June 29 in Miami.
Inter Miami has 10 matches remaining until Messi’s expected departure for Copa America.
How did Monterrey beat Inter Miami 3-1 in Champions Cup second leg?
Messi left fans with a glimpse of his greatness, assisting on a header goal by Diego Gomez off a free kick. But the score came in the 85th minute of the match, long after the quarterfinal was decided.
Inter Miami fell behind 1-0 early after goalie Drake Callender’s lazy clearance found former MLS standout Brandon Vazquez, who quickly found the back of the net for Monterrey in the 31st minute.
Germán Berterame scored in the 58th minute and Jesús Gallardo scored on a header goal in the 64th minute to seal the match, and the quarterfinal, early in the second half.
“It’s disappointing to lose here and go out of the competition,” Inter Miami’s Julian Gressel said after the game. “We know Monterrey was a good team and a tough opponent. They played really well, and we made some mistakes that cost us.”
Added Martino: “I believe what took us out of the game was the second goal 15 minutes into the second half. At that time, we were eliminated.”
Why was Champions Cup loss so disappointing for Inter Miami?
It was a disappointing outing by Inter Miami, which caused a stir by confronting Monterrey in the locker room area after the first leg of their quarterfinal, a 2-1 loss, last Wednesday.
After the first match, Monterrey assistant coach Nico Sánchez apologized after he said Messi “wanted to fight me” and threatened to hit him in audio leaked by FOX Sports Mexico. “The dwarf was possessed,” Sánchez said of Messi. “He had the face of the devil.”
Messi and Inter Miami were upset about the 6-3 yellow card differential, and Monterrey coach Fernando Ortiz’s pregame comments that referees and outside factors tilt decisions in Messi’s favor. Inter Miami was fined an undisclosed amount “for lack of security in their stadium,” announced by Concacaf before the second leg.
“I said it and I say it again, for me, he is the best player in the history of the sport,” Ortiz said of Messi after the game. “I still maintain and I also started saying the things I said, that I never wanted to offend anyone and disrespect anyone, I simply gave my opinion regarding what I still think.”
Ortiz said he and Martino did not shake hands following the match, while Martino declined to comment on their lack of interaction.
“No, that greeting was not given, and if it was given I do not know how I would react,” Ortiz said of Martino. “On my part, he will have my respect for life.”
