Lionel Messi started his Inter Miami season on a high note as Messi Inter Miami won their Leagues Cup. But it ended with a defeat as Messi played 90 minutes and lost 1-0 to Charlotte FC.
Messi, who was wearing the black “La Noche Inter Miami” jersey for the first time after joining the club late in July, was engaged, competitive, and ran hard as if the match were consequential. But it wasn’t.
Two Inter Miami offsides penalties negated Kerwin Vargas’s goal in the 13th minute. Goalie Kristijan Khlina saved a Leo Campana header with his fingertips and a Messi corner kick in the final moments to make it into the MLS playoffs.
Messi Inter Miami Black jersey is in action
In today’s match, Messi will wear the black Inter Miami jersey for the first time during his Messi era.
Since joining Inter Miami in late July, Messi has worn the pink Heartbeat Kit jerseys.
Inter Miami teased the jersey kit on social media before the match as a special treat for Messi’s fans, who had patiently waited to see him wearing Inter Miami’s La Noche Kit.
Watch the Highlights of Charlotte FC vs Inter Miami
Kerwin Vargas goal: Charlotte FC 1, Inter Miami 0
Messi, in a black long-sleeve shirt underneath his black “La Noche” Inter Miami jersey, with the captain’s wristband, has contested the ball around the midline but played patiently for the first 10 minutes of the match.
Charlotte FC has scored first to try and keep alive its playoff hopes.
Kerwin Vargas’s goal in the 13 minute helped Charlotte FC to take a 1-0 advantage in this match.
Messi Inter Miami misses shot: Charlotte FC 1, Inter Miami 0
Messi had an opening in the box behind Charlotte’s defenders. Still, Leo Campana’s pass in the 40-minute was just out of reach.
In the previous sequence, Messi passed to Deandre Yadlin, which set up Diego Gomez’s shot but was deflected off by a defender. Inter Miami scored their first goal of the game.
Messi was quiet but active and running hard whenever he was involved in the first half of the match.
Charlotte FC 1, Messi Inter Miami 0
Messi received a pass from the outlet and ran toward the box to chip the ball over Charlotte’s goalie just before the second half started.
Messi’s only goal attempt in this match was offside.
Messi’s second shot was blocked a minute later by a Charlotte defenseman.
Charlotte FC 1, Miami 0. Messi misses two free kicks in the 62′ and 65″
Leo Messi was close to scoring a spectacular goal from a free kick.
In the 62-minute, Charlotte’s goalkeeper deflected Messi’s right-side free kick off the crossbar. Kerwin Vargas of Charlotte was guilty of a handball, which led to the opportunity. He scored the only goal in this match.
Messi was awarded a free kick in the 65th minute, which he took from 40-45 meters. However, his kick struck defenders and players. Two Charlotte defenders tripped Messi at the 65 minutes to set up this kick.
Messi Overall Performance In this League
Messi, a seven-time Ballon d’Or-winning player and the top footballer in the world will also be expected to wear Inter Miami’s colours on November 5 and November 8 when the team is playing two exhibition matches in China. This will be Inter Miami’s first foreign tour. Argentina will play two more World Cup qualifiers on November 16 and 21. Messi can take a break before Inter Miami prepares for the 2024 season.
Messi scored 11 goals for Inter Miami in 14 matches this season. In those 14 matches, Inter Miami went 8-2-4. Seven games were part of the team’s quest to win the Leagues Cup Championship. He played in five MLS matches, three of which he started and scored one goal.
Messi was in the U.S. Open Cup semi-finals, but an injury to his leg ended his season. Inter Miami’s postseason hopes were effectively over. Miami has now gone 1-3-3 without Messi in seven matches since he joined. Inter Miami was eliminated from the playoffs after losing 1-0 to Cincinnati on October 7, despite Messi’s ability to substitute.
