Messi scored in the 92nd minute as Inter Miami advanced past Jamaica Premier League champions Cavalier FC with a 2-0 win during their second round-of-16 matchup in the Concacaf Champions Cup. Inter Miami advanced 4-0 on aggregate score and will face LAFC in the quarterfinals in early April.
It wasn’t imperative for Messi to return from a three-game layoff due to fatigue in Jamaica, but Messi’s goal left a lasting image for more than 30,000 fans in attendance at National Stadium in Kingston.
“We knew that Leo wasn’t playing for the last three games, so obviously we wanted him to play. We needed to find the moment to send him onto the pitch. I think it was good because he felt really good in the pitch,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said after the game.
“He scored, and the people in Jamaica could see him. It was a good night for everyone.”
Messi and Inter Miami’s appearance in Jamaica was easily the biggest soccer match in the Caribbean country since Brazilian star Pele and Santos played Cavalier in 1971.
Messi came off the bench in the 53rd minute and immediately fired a shot with his left boot over the net upon entering the game. He appeared winded at times initially, but aggressively tried to find space to attack despite concerning field conditions that worsened as the game progressed.
With just a minute remaining, Messi ran behind a defender and scored a chip shot in front of Cavalier goalkeeper Vino Barclett for his third goal of the year.
Uruguay great Luis Suarez scored a penalty kick in the 37th minute for Inter Miami, and was replaced by Messi in the lineup during the game.
It was Messi’s first game since he helped Inter Miami advance past Sporting Kansas City in the previous round of the Champions Cup on Feb. 25. He predominately played in three matches during a six-day stretch from Feb. 19-25, and eight matches in a 40-day span from Jan. 18 to Feb. 14, including five preseason matches to start the year.
Messi did not travel to Inter Miami’s 4-1 win against the Houston Dynamo on March 2, and did not play in Inter Miami’s first leg against Cavalier FC last Thursday.
He was expected to come off the bench in Inter Miami’s 1-0 win against Charlotte last Sunday, but Inter Miami played with just 10 players for most of the match after an early red card. Mascherano didn’t want to risk Messi down a player.
Messi and Inter Miami return to MLS action on the road Sunday against Atlanta United – the club that eliminated them in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs last year.
Then, Messi is expected to join the Argentine national team for two matches: Argentina visits Uruguay on March 21, then Argentina hosts Brazil on March 25.
Messi and Inter Miami arrived in Jamaica on Wednesday night to a hero’s welcome, where he was greeted off the plane by Olivia Grange, Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.
Messi was also featured on the front and back covers of the Jamaica Observer newspaper on Thursday, with a photo of Grange presenting Messi with a T-shirt of Bob Marley playing soccer.
“This is a good feeling to play against possibly one of the greatest players of all time. I think Jamaica also enjoyed themselves. They came out. The game was not boring. And Messi scored a goal – everybody’s happy,” Cavalier coach and sporting director Rudolph Speid said with a smile after the loss.
Inter Miami vs. Cavalier highlights
Messi scores goal: Inter Miami wins 4-0 on aggregate score vs. Cavalier FC
Lionel Messi ensured fans in Jamaica went home with a memory of a lifetime, scoring in the final minute against Cavalier FC.
Messi enters Cavalier vs. Inter Miami match in second half
Lionel Messi immediately fired a shot over the net in his first possession. He is making his first appearance in Jamaica, coming off the bench for Inter Miami and entering in the 53rd minute. Inter Miami essentially has a 4-0 lead on aggregate score, thanks to Luis Suarez’ away goal earlier in the match. Messi replaced Suarez in the lineup, and was given the captain’s armband by Sergio Busquets as he entered the pitch.
Luis Suarez goal: Inter Miami 1, Cavalier FC 0 (Inter Miami leads 3-0 on aggregate)
Luis Suarez has scored a penalty in the 37th minute to increase Inter Miami’s lead against Cavalier in the Champions Cup round of 16.
Inter Miami’s Tadeo Allende was tripped in the penalty area by Cavalier defender Christopher Ainsworth in the 35th minute, creating the opportunity.
Messi remains on the bench, and it’s unclear whether he will make an appearance in Jamaica.
How to watch Cavalier FC vs. Inter Miami match on Thursday?
The Cavalier FC vs. Inter Miami match will be available to watch on FS2 in English, and on TUDN and ViX in Spanish.
What time does Cavalier FC vs. Inter Miami match begin?
The match begins at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. in Jamaica, 9 p.m. in Argentina).
Is Messi playing tonight in Jamaica?
It’s possible Messi could play. He is listed as a substitute in Inter Miami’s starting lineup, announced an hour before the match begins. Here are the starting lineups for both clubs:
Messi arrives in Jamaica with Inter Miami
How many games has Messi missed?
Messi has not played in the last three Inter Miami matches, but was anticipated to return off the bench last Sunday at home against Charlotte FC.
However, Inter Miami was forced to play with 10 players after goalie Oscar Ustari was given a red card and ejected in the first half of the match. Instead of playing without a goalie, Mascherano substituted midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi out of the match for backup goalie Rocco Ríos Novo. Mascherano said he didn’t want to risk playing Messi in the match while down a player.
Messi did not travel to Inter Miami’s 4-1 win against the Houston Dynamo on March 2, and did not play in Inter Miami’s first leg against Cavalier FC last Thursday.
Messi predominately played in three matches during a six-day stretch from Feb. 19-25, and eight matches in a 40-day span from Jan. 18 to Feb. 14, including five preseason matches played in Las Vegas, Peru, Panama, Honduras and Tampa, Florida.
Messi’s upcoming schedule with Inter Miami, Argentina
After Inter Miami returns from Jamaica, they will have a rematch Sunday against Atlanta United — the club that eliminated them in upset fashion from the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs last season. It will be Inter Miami’s last match before the FIFA international window opens for World Cup qualifiers.
Messi is expected to join the Argentine national team for two matches: Argentina visits Uruguay on March 21, then Argentina hosts Brazil on March 25.
Inter Miami’s last match of the month will be on March 29 at home against the Philadelphia Union.
Who will Inter Miami or Cavalier FC face in next round of Champions Cup?
The winner of the Inter Miami-Cavalier FC matchup will meet LAFC in the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup. The quarterfinal series will begin in early April.