FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Inter Miami is one match away from raising another trophy during the Lionel Messi era. And they have Messi to thank for leading the way.
Messi scored two second-half goals – a penalty kick (77’) and the game winner (88’) – to help Inter Miami beat Orlando City 3-1 in their Leagues Cup semifinal at Chase Stadium on Wednesday, Aug. 27.
Telasco Segovia added a goal in the 91st minute, just minutes after Messi saved the night for Inter Miami, who will play on the road against the Seattle Sounders in the Leagues Cup final on Sunday, Aug. 31.
Inter Miami desperately needed Messi to return from a right hamstring injury that nagged him for most of the last month to face Orlando City, their in-state MLS rival that outscored them 7-1 in two regular-season losses earlier this season.
They also needed Messi to help them overcome any impact from coach Javier Mascherano’s red-card suspension. Mascherano watched the match from a box atop the stadium, instead of from the first row in the stands while using his iPhone as he did during their quarterfinal win on Aug. 20.
Now, Inter Miami has a chance to contend for at least one trophy during the 2025 season.
“I prepared myself to play in this match because I knew how important the opponent was, a very tough opponent who we hadn’t won any match we faced them this year,” Messi said in a postgame interview with Apple TV. “I felt a little bit of fear (playing) in the first half, but in the second half I loosened up a bit more.”
Messi grimaced several times while warming up before the match, but appeared to get stronger as the match continued, especially as he delivered two game-saving moments.
They were necessary after Orlando City’s Marco Pašalić scored a minute before halftime, putting Inter Miami on the brink of going to the Leagues Cup third-place match.
“This guy is ridiculous, honestly. It’s such a pleasure to have him on the team,” Inter Miami defender Ian Frey said of Messi. “And it’s not surprising. He’s going to do this all the time. And we definitely don’t take it for granted.”
Messi creatively combined with Jordi Alba on a give-and-go, through several defenders, to score the game-deciding goal before added time was added to regulation.
Luis Suarez assisted Segovia’s goal as the match winded to its end, adding to the celebration that had already begun inside Inter Miami’s home stadium. But the turning point was Messi’s penalty kick to tie the match.
Inter Miami’s Tadeo Allende had his jersey pulled on a shot attempt inside the box by Orlando City defender David Brekalo two minutes prior. Inter Miami was also lucky to not get a penalty called on midfielder Sergio Busquets despite his fouling Iván Angulo earlier in the second half.
Orlando City played the rest of the match without Brekalo, who was ejected after receiving a second yellow card. He also elbowed Rodrigo De Paul in the face during the first half.
“After the red card, we lost control,” Orlando City coach Óscar Pareja said in a press conference room, adjacent to Inter Miami’s loud and celebratory locker room, after the match.
Along with Messi’s heroics, Inter Miami’s coaching strategy worked to top Orlando for the first time this season following a 3-0 loss on May 18 (which Messi played in), and a 4-1 loss in Orlando on Aug. 10 (which Messi did not play).
Allende and Segovia, two mainstays in Inter Miami’s starting lineup for much of the season, came off the bench during Wednesday’s victory. Mascherano was able to help his club adjust during halftime, assistant coach Javier Morales said.
Still, the credit goes to Messi, the Argentine World Cup champion, for propelling Inter Miami to its second Leagues Cup final.
Messi led Inter Miami to their first title as a franchise in the 2023 Leagues Cup tournament, one month after his July 2023 arrival in Major League Soccer.
Inter Miami won the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield for having the best regular season in league history with 74 points under former coach Tata Martino. But their first-round exit to Atlanta United in the MLS Cup playoffs spoiled Messi’s first full season with the club.
Now, he has a chance to lead Inter Miami to another trophy in 2025 after falling in the semifinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup and the Round of 16 in the FIFA Club World Cup earlier this year.
They also have a shot to compete again for the Supporters’ Shield and contend for their first MLS Cup title as the 2025 season winds to an end after Leagues Cup with a healthy Messi leading the way.
“He is very important to us, especially his leadership, with the experience he has in tournaments, in the championships he has won,” Morales said of Messi. “The truth is, it’s crazy to have him.”
Inter Miami vs. Orlando City highlights
Inter Miami 3, Orlando City 1: Tadeo Segovia scores late goal, Miami to advance to Leagues Cup final
Inter Miami 2, Orlando City 1: Messi scores potential game-winning goal
Inter Miami 1, Orlando City 1: Lionel Messi scores penalty
Lionel Messi has converted a penalty kick in the 77th minute, and this Leagues Cup semifinal is tied at 1. If the match remains tied at the end of regulation, it will proceed to penalty kicks.
Orlando City 1, Inter Miami 0: Messi misses free kick shot on goal
Lionel Messi had a chance to tie the match at 1, but his free kick in the 71st minute was over the crossbar.
Messi ran with a head of steam and collided into Orlando’s César Araújo, who was shown a yellow card, just outside the box.
Orlando City 1, Inter Miami 0: Messi tries to score around five defenders
Despite being surrounded by five Orlando City players, Messi tried to make something happen inside the box.
Orlando City 1, Inter Miami 0: Marco Pašalić scores goal
A minute before halftime, Orlando City’s Marco Pašalić scored to take a 1-0 lead against Messi and Inter Miami. The goal was scored after what Inter Miami contested to be a handball by Pašalić before the shot, but VAR concluded the goal will stand.
Inter Miami 0, Orlando City 0: Luis Suarez misses left boot
Luis Suarez fired his first shot of the night in the 31st minute, but it veered off target.
Inter Miami 0, Orlando City 0: Iván Angulo misses golden chance
Iván Angulo missed a wide open opportunity in the 23rd minute for Orlando City, failing to capitalize on a one-on-one opportunity.
Inter Miami 0, Orlando 0: Rodrigo De Paul missed shot
Rodrigo De Paul has the green light, but his second shot toward the goal in the 22nd minute was saved by Orlando City goalkeeper Pedro Gallese. The opportunity came after Orlando City picked up two yellow cards, including one where De Paul was elbowed in the face by David Brekalo.
Inter Miami 0, Orlando City 0: Rodrigo De Paul misses shot on goal
Inter Miami’s Rodrigo De Paul was unable to capitalize on an early opportunity in the 8th minutes, missing his shot to the left of the net.
Is Messi playing tonight?
Yes, Messi is in the starting lineup and will play against Orlando City in the Leagues Cup semifinal.
Inter Miami vs. Orlando City starting lineup
What time is Inter Miami vs. Orlando City?
The match is Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 8:30 p.m. ET at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
How to watch Inter Miami vs. Orlando City Leagues Cup match?
The match is available to live stream on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV, and Apple TV+ channel on Amazon Prime, Xfinity and DirecTV.
When is the LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders Leagues Cup match?
The match is Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 10:45 p.m. ET at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
How to watch LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders Leagues Cup match?
The match is available to live stream on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV, and Apple TV+ channel on Amazon Prime, Xfinity and DirecTV.
What’s at stake in the Leagues Cup semifinals?
Both finalists and the third-place winner will earn berths to the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup tournament – which determines entries into the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup.
Leagues Cup betting odds
Inter Miami and Seattle are the favorites to reach the Leagues Cup final, according to BetMGM.
Inter Miami vs. Orlando City
Inter Miami: -110
Draw: +275
Orlando City: +195
LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders
L.A. Galaxy: +165
Tie: +240
Seattle Sounders: +120
Messi injury update: Here’s the latest
Messi and Jordi Alba — who suffered a knock to his right knee — returned to Inter Miami training on Monday and Tuesday, assistant coach Javier Morales said.
“We’ll make a decision about the final lineup for the match,” Morales said of Messi and Alba. “But luckily they trained and were able to complete the session, which is a positive thing.”
Messi has missed four games due to the hamstring injury, which he appeared to reaggravate during a premature return in an Aug. 16 match against the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Why is Messi’s return from injury important?
After the Leagues Cup semifinal Wednesday and the final or third-place match Sunday, Messi will rejoin the Argentine national team for a World Cup qualifying match against Venezuela in Buenos Aires on Sept. 4.
The match will be Messi’s last match in his home country for the foreseeable future, with no other matches scheduled before World Cup 2026. Messi has yet to declare he will play with the defending champions in the World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Messi upcoming schedule with Inter Miami and Argentina
Aug. 31: Leagues Cup final OR third-place match
Sept. 4: Argentina vs. Venezuela (World Cup qualifying)
Sept. 9: Ecuador vs. Argentina (World Cup qualifying)
Sept. 13: Charlotte FC vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. (MLS regular season)
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