1 month Ago By Omair Pall
On a night filled with tension, drama, and sheer football magic, Lionel Messi reminded the world why he’s still at the heart of it all. With two goals and a performance packed with heart, the Argentine legend powered Inter Miami to a remarkable 3-2 aggregate win over Los Angeles FC on Wednesday, sending his side into the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Heading into the second leg, things weren’t looking great for Miami.
They were already a goal down from the first leg and found themselves in even deeper trouble when LAFC's Aaron Long struck in just the ninth minute, doubling the visitors’ advantage on aggregate. The home crowd fell silent, but not for long. In the 35th minute, Messi brought the stadium back to life.
With space opening up outside the box, he unleashed a trademark curling effort that found the net and reignited Miami’s hopes. It was the moment they needed, not just a goal, but belief. Lionel Messi is 37 years of age and he’s actually scoring screamers every single week.
.. GOAT.
pic.twitter.com/7zo6mWXdxH — george (@StokeyyG2) April 10, 2025 But the comeback was far from over.
Early in the second half, a moment of chaos led to Miami’s second. Young left-back Noah Allen floated a hopeful ball into the area, and somehow, it found its way past everyone, including midfielder Federico Redondo and veteran keeper Hugo Lloris, before nestling into the net. It was an odd goal, but one that pulled the aggregate score level at 2-2.
Miami thought they had the winner moments later when Messi picked out Luis Suárez with a peach of a cross. The Uruguayan headed home, and the celebrations began, only to be cut short by the offside flag. Tension crept back in.
Then came the turning point. In the 84th minute, amidst a packed penalty area, appeals rang out for a handball by LAFC’s Marlon. After a tense VAR review, the referee pointed to the spot.
Messi, cool as ever, stepped up and slotted the ball into the corner. It was his second of the night and the goal that completed Miami’s unforgettable turnaround. But LAFC weren’t going down without a fight.
In the dying minutes, Denis Bouanga forced two sharp saves from Oscar Ustari, and Ryan Hollingshead came close with a header. Still, Miami held firm. At the final whistle, it was joy and relief for the home side.
Fueled by Messi’s brilliance and a gritty team effort, Inter Miami are now just two games away from the final. One thing’s clear, when Messi’s on the pitch, anything is possible. SEE ALSO: Preity Zinta Cheers For PBKS' Rising Star Priyansh Arya In Heartfelt Post: 'Birth Of A Bright Star'.
