Messi Screamer Keeps Inter Miami’s Comeback Hopes Alive

Lionel Messi revived Inter Miami’s hopes in the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals with a stunning left-footed strike to equalize against LAFC, according to La Nación. His goal made it 1-1 in the return leg at Chase Stadium, but Miami still needs two more goals to overturn the 1-0 deficit from the first leg.

HAD TO BE HIM 🐐💥pic.twitter.com/oJwaAgcUnG

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) April 10, 2025

LAFC struck first in the 10th minute, when Aaron Long capitalized on a chaotic sequence in the box to score from a loose ball. The goal dampened the atmosphere and underscored the urgency of Miami’s task.

Messi nearly responded in the 30th minute with a clever quick free kick that ended in the back of the net. However, VAR intervened, ruling the ball wasn’t in play, and forced a retake—this time hitting the wall.

But just five minutes later, Messi found redemption. The Argentine maestro received the ball inside the area, cut to his left, and curled a powerful shot past Hugo Lloris into the top corner. The strike drew comparisons to his goal in the 2022 World Cup final and sent the Miami crowd into a frenzy.

Missing suspended veteran Sergio Busquets, Javier Mascherano’s side still faces an uphill battle. Yet with Messi producing moments of magic, their dreams of a semifinal berth remain intact.