Lionel Messi scores and leaves early as Inter Miami advances in the CCC.

Wednesday night’s 5-3 Concacaf Champions Cup aggregate victory against Nashville SC saw Lionel Messi set up an early goal and score another before departing the game. 

Inter Miami CF advanced to the regional club tournament quarterfinals.

After the first leg in Nashville, the teams entered the match level 2-2 on aggregate. 

However, Miami led two goals to the finish thanks to goals from Luis Suárez and former Barcelona player Lionel Messi, who first scored after a nice combination and then finished coolly from the center of the penalty area.

While Messi remained on the field at the start of the second half, Robert Taylor was brought on by Miami coach Gerardo Martino five minutes into the game.

Messi was substituted early in the second half of his team’s MLS match against Montreal on Sunday, although it was unclear why he was taken off the field.

“Leo’s right leg is overloaded with muscles. We don’t want to take any chances with him,” Martino declared following the game. 

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“We tried to see if he could last a little longer after half-time, but it was bothering him, so we preferred to take him out the game.”

Messi now has five goals and four assists in five games this season for Miami, marking his fourth straight game with a goal.

Drake Callender of Miami made two excellent saves to keep his team ahead, but Nashville still looked dangerous early in the second half despite their 2-0 deficit.

But just after the hour, Suarez curled in a wonderful cross from the right side, and Taylor leaped to meet it and head home a strong curving header to increase the advantage to 3-0, virtually putting the game out of reach for the home club.

Nashville scored a consolation goal in stoppage time of the second half when Sam Surridge headed in a cross from Shaq Moored.

Starting on April 2, Miami will face the victor of FC Cincinnati vs. Monterrey in the round of 16 in the CCC quarterfinals. It travels to play D.C. United on March 16.

In addition, Messi is anticipated to play in at least part of two friendlies between Argentina and El Salvador and Costa Rica later this month. 

• The World Cup winners are getting ready to defend their Copa America title this summer when the US hosts the CONMEBOL cup championship.
• Prior to Sunday’s match against Montreal, the Miami star’s status was labeled as questionable due to a shin ailment. 
• However, following the game, Martino stated that the intention was always to rest Messi for that particular match.
• The rest appeared to be encouraging for Messi’s performance on Wednesday, since he made an immediate impression.
• Four minutes into the game, Aníbal Godoy of Nashville fouled him, earning him a free kick, but his shot was blocked. 
• A few minutes later, the 36-year-old took advantage of his opportunity. 

Using his excellent vision, he fit a pass to a running Suárez, who fired the ball into the bottom right corner of the net.

Following a fan-led chant of Messi’s name, Taylor scored Miami’s third goal after Messi received a pass from Diego Gómez and scored from inside the penalty area.

Late in the second half, Nashville had an opportunity when Hany Mukhtar broke through Miami’s defense and found the back of the net with a shot. 

After a thorough investigation, officials declared that Mukhtar was offside, overturning the goal.

Messi faced his Nashville team for the fourth time on Wednesday since he joined Inter Miami and the Major League Soccer (MLS) in the summer. The team is led by Gary Smith.

Prior to Wednesday, they had three ties, the first coming in the 2023 Leagues Cup final, which Miami won 10-9 on penalty kicks. 

Miami won its first trophy in club history thanks to goals from Messi early in regulation and on the first penalty kick attempt.

“It’s an endless puzzle,” Smith remarked prior to the game on Wednesday. “You attempt to form a group in an effort to restrict his abilities. 

No matter how skilled or organized a person is, they will always find a way, as he has demonstrated throughout his career at the highest levels.”

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