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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].”
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.
