Inter Miami’s 3-1 victory in the Champions Cup vs. LAFC on Wednesday was packed to the brim with drama including a skirmish in the final minutes. The Inter Miami LAFC fight broke out in the 89th minute after a hard foul on Lionel Messi.
LAFC defender Marlon hit-sticked Messi near midfield which resulted in a chaotic fight between the two sides.
Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano was fuming about a controversial VAR decision during his side’s 1-0 loss to LAFC in the Concacaf Champions Cup on Wednesday. The Argentine said LAFC deserved a red card and that the moment in question is “a red in China and on the moon.”
LAFC were fortunate not to go a player down when forward Nathan Ordaz was caught up in an off-the-ball skirmish with Miami defender Maximiliano Falcón. In the first half Ordaz was seen striking Falcón.
Mascherano VAR controversy vs. LAFC
A late Lionel Messi goal vs Cavalier was worth the price of admission for the home crowd in Kingston, Jamaica, as Inter Miami cruised to a 2-0 victory Thursday night and 4-0 on aggregate in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Messi began the night on the bench but entered the game with the Herons leading 1-0 and replaced Luis Suárez in the 53rd minute. The Uruguayan scored Miami’s opener from the penalty spot in the first half.
Messi then struck in the final seconds of the game to put one last nail in the Cavalier coffin.
Messi goal vs Cavalier
Inter Miami are in hot water with their own fans after Lionel Messi didn’t appear in the matchday squad for Thursday’s Concacaf Champions Cup home game vs. Cavalier.
Inter Miami gave no indication or warning that Messi wouldn’t be available for the game until the lineup was released. This left fans outraged as they paid top dollar to see him play at Chase Stadium only to learn he wouldn’t be on the field.
The backlash online came in droves.
Fans react to Messi absence vs Cavalier
A spectacular Lionel Messi goal vs Sporting KC opened the scoring of Inter Miami’s 3-1 victory in the second leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup on Tuesday. Miami won 4-1 on aggregate.
Messi got the home crowd at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on their feet in the 19th minute with a golazo from the top of the box. Luis Suarez found his former Barcelona teammate with a cross and Messi finished beautifully on the half volley.
Lionel Messi goal vs Sporting KC
Inter Miami and Lionel Messi’s first competitive match of the 2025 season was one for the books. And, of course, autograph worthy.
The final whistle of Inter Miami CF’s Concacaf Champions Cup match against Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday night at Children's Mercy Park saw a referee ask Lionel Messi for his autograph, forcing Concacaf to put out a statement to confirm their disciplinary action against the official.
A Lionel Messi goal vs Sporting KC in single-digit temperatures proved to be the difference in Inter Miami’s 1-0 victory in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup matchup on Wednesday.
Rumors had circulated throughout the week that Messi wanted to avoid playing in the freezing weather. The gossip was only exacerbated after the game was pushed back from Tuesday to Wednesday due to inclement weather and snow.
The temperature at kickoff for Wednesday’s game was four degrees fahrenheit.
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are set for a challenging and potentially historic encounter as they face Sporting Kansas City in the first round of the Concacaf Champions Cup — and not exactly for its exciting head-to-head entertainment potential. Get ready for snow, Messi.
Inter Miami and Sporting KC Concacaf Champions Cup match to be played under snow
According to reports, the match between Kansas City and Miami on Tuesday will be held under potentially freezing conditions, with the forecast predicting temperatures as low as 8 degrees Fahrenheit.
History was made on Thursday in the Concacaf Champions Cup as Cavalry FC stunned Liga MX giants Pumas 2-1 in a first leg upset. No team from the Canadian Premier League (CPL) had ever defeated a Mexican club before.
In fact, no CPL club had ever won a Concacaf Champions Cup game prior to Thursday night.
Cavalry secured the victory 450 miles away from their usual home ground as the temperatures in Calgary were too cold to host the game. Instead the game was played in Langford, British Columbia.
Cavalry vs Pumas highlights
Salomón Rondón recorded a brace to lead host CF Pachuca to a 3-0 victory over the Columbus Crew on Saturday in the final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Pachuca defeat Columbus Crew in CONCACAF Champions Cup final
Rondon's goals in the 12th and 67th minutes sandwiched a 32nd-minute tally from Miguel Rodríguez against the reigning MLS Cup champions.