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Lionel Messi's first MLS season ends quietly as Inter Miami loses 1-0 to Charlotte FC

Safid Deen, USA TODAY
·11 min read

Lionel Messi’s first season with MLS club Inter Miami has come to a quiet end.

Messi had a goal negated because he was offsides, and a free kick was deflected off the crossbar as he played the entire match in Charlotte FC’s 1-0 win at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday night in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Messi – wearing the black “La Noche” Inter Miami jersey for the first time since joining the club in late July – was competitive, engaged and running hard like the match was consequential. But it wasn’t.

Kerwin Vargas scored in the 13th minute, Charlotte saw two Inter Miami goals negated by offsides penalties and goalie Kristijan Kahlina saved two shots in the closing minutes – a header by Leo Campana he saved with his fingertips and a corner kick from Messi – to reach the MLS postseason.

Messi did not have to play. Inter Miami was eliminated from the postseason earlier this month. And the 2022 World Cup champion with Argentina and seven-time Ballon d’Or winner could have preserved his health after regaining it, following an injured September.

Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi reacts after taking a free kick against Charlotte FC.
Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi reacts after taking a free kick against Charlotte FC.

Messi looked spectacular, scoring in the 32nd and 42nd minutes of Argentina’s 2-0 win over Peru on Tuesday night in a 2026 World Cup qualifying match, and insisted on finishing Inter Miami’s season.

Messi played on turf instead of natural grass for the first time in the MLS. And Inter Miami used its final road match of the season to gauge its lineup ahead of a lengthy offseason, where an early November trip to China for two friendlies and some more roster rebuilding could be in the cards.

Messi and Inter Miami head to China for matches against Qingdao Hainiu F.C. on Nov. 5 and Chengdu Rongcheng on Nov. 8. He will also return to the Argentine team for matches against Uruguay on Nov. 16 and Brazil on Nov. 21.

Messi recovered from a right leg injury that caused him to miss matches in Atlanta, Orlando and Chicago last month. He did not play in six Inter Miami matches, including the club’s loss in the U.S. Open Cup final against Houston Dynamo.

Messi scored 11 goals and assists five more in 14 appearances for Inter Miami, co-owned by David Beckham, and Jorge and Jose Mas. But the club finished its season winless in its last seven games.

Inter Miami won the Leagues Cup tournament in August, while Messi’s Inter Miami jerseys have become the best-selling jersey in the MLS, and Apple TV has benefited from broadcasting MLS games.

“If, at the time of signing, you had told me that we were going to win one of the three tournaments, I would have certainly signed with my eyes closed,” Inter Miami coach Gerardo 'Tata' Martino said of the Leagues Cup, U.S. Open Cup and MLS postseason.

The first season of the Messi era may have ended quietly, but there’s no denying it was a rousing success.

Messi free kicks miss in 62’ and 65’: Charlotte FC 1, Miami 0

Leo Messi nearly had a spectacular free kick goal.

Messi’s free kick from right side of the box was deflected by the Charlotte goalie and hit the crossbar in the 62nd minute. The opportunity was gifted following a handball by Charlotte’s Kerwin Vargas, who scored the match’s only goal.

Messi had another free kick from about 40-45 yards out, but his kick hit the wall of players. Messi was tripped between two Charlotte defenders in the 65th minute to set up the kick.

Messi’s goal was offsides: Charlotte FC 1, Inter Miami 0

Messi received an outlet pass and a jog toward the box for a chip shot over the Charlotte goalie’s head just as the second half began.

But Messi was offsides on the only attempt on goal he’s had in this match.

No goal for Messi.

A minute later, Messi’s next shot was blocked by a Charlotte defender.

Inter Miami misses shot: Charlotte FC 1, Inter Miami 0

Messi found an opening behind some Charlotte defenders in the box, but a pass from Leo Campana was out of Messi’s reach in the 40th minute.

On the previous sequence, Messi’s pass to Deandre Yedlin set up a shot by Diego Gomez, but it was deflected by a defender. It was Inter Miami’s first shot of the match.

Messi has been relatively quiet but engaged and running hard when involved during the first half of this match.

Kerwin Vargas goal: Charlotte FC 1, Inter Miami 0

Messi, wearing a long sleeve black shirt under his black “La Noche” Inter Miami jersey with the captain’s armband, contested a ball around the midline but has played patiently during the first 10 minutes of the match.

But Charlotte FC, trying to keep its playoff hopes alive, has struck first in this one.

Kerwin Vargas scored in the 13th minute to help Charlotte FC take a 1-0 lead in this match.

Messi in starting lineup for Inter Miami at Charlotte

Not only is Messi playing, but he will be starting: Messi was announced as one of Inter Miami’s starters for the Charlotte match on Saturday.

Here's a photo of Messi warming up before the match.

How much Messi will play in the match remains to be seen. Maybe, he plays in the first half. Maybe, he’ll have an early exit after halftime.

Who knows? Maybe, Messi will play the entire match just because.

Messi Inter Miami black jersey gets some action 

For the first time in the Messi era, he will wear Inter Miami’s black jersey in today’s match against Charlotte.

Messi and Inter Miami has routinely worn their pink jerseys, known as the Heartbeat Kit, since he joined the club in late July.

Inter Miami teased its jersey kit in a social media post before the game, a treat for Messi fans who have been waiting patiently to see him in Inter Miami's La Noche kit.

Messi plays on MLS Decision Day

While Messi will get some of the spotlight Saturday, the MLS playoff picture will take shape after today’s slate of matches.

Two playoff spots still are up for grabs, with five teams — CF Montréal, New York Red Bulls, Chicago Fire FC, Charlotte FC and New York City FC — fighting for their playoff hopes in the Eastern Conference.

And the Portland Timbers, FC Dallas, San Jose Earthquakes, Sporting Kansas City and Minnesota United FC will compete for the final three playoff spots in the Western Conference.

What are the 2023 MLS Decision Day matchups?

All games are available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

Messi says he will play in Charlotte

It is unclear whether Messi will start or come off the bench, but Messi will be available for selection in Inter Miami’s lineup.

Messi shared his intention to play in the match after his recent outing, where he scored two goals to lift Argentina past Peru late Tuesday night in a 2026 World Cup qualifying match.

“I will train, I will play our remaining upcoming match,” Messi said during a sideline interview with TyC Sports and TVP after the Peru game.

Messi trained with his Inter Miami teammates on Friday, and assistant coach Javi Morales said the club will determine how much he will play before Saturday’s match.

“He returned well, he played 90 minutes with Argentina. He returned with no problem, nothing to be concerned of from what had happened to him in the past,” Morales said of Messi.

“He is doing very well, in good condition, with the desire to play, which is what he likes to do, so we’re good.”

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi waves to the crowd during the second half of an MLS soccer match against Los Angeles FC, Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023, in Los Angeles.
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi waves to the crowd during the second half of an MLS soccer match against Los Angeles FC, Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023, in Los Angeles.

Why Messi’s decision to play in Charlotte is unique

Messi’s decision to play at Charlotte FC is pertinent because it’ll be the first match he plays on artificial turf in the MLS.

During Messi’s first and only Inter Miami press conference in August, he appeared open to the idea of playing on turf.

“All of my lower leagues, I’ve always played on turf,” Messi said.

“That was a long time ago and it’s been a long time since I played on synthetic turf. But I have no problem adapting to turf again.”

While MLS commissioner Don Garber said he hoped MLS teams playing on turf would roll out a grass surface on top of it, Charlotte was quite vocal in being against the notion just for Messi.

“All of our Major League Soccer matches are scheduled to be played on turf and there is no plan to change to natural grass,” Charlotte FC said in a July statement.

How did Messi fare in his last three matches?

Messi appears close to 100 percent healthy after Argentina’s 2-0 win over Peru last Tuesday. He scored in the 32nd and 42nd minutes, and was determined for a hat trick that did not come to fruition.

He appeared sharp and back in shape, playing from start to finish for the first time since a right leg injury with Argentina on Sept. 7 hampered him for much of the last six weeks with Inter Miami.

It was a drastic improvement from his previous two appearances: Messi’s rust showed as he hit the crossbar twice in Argentina’s match against Paraguay on Oct. 12. One of those instances included a free kick on goal, which Messi has routinely made since joining Inter Miami this summer.

Still, it was a better outing than his Inter Miami return against FC Cincinnati on Oct. 7, when he didn’t have a shot on goal. Inter Miami lost 1-0, the club’s first loss with Messi in the lineup that ended their MLS postseason hopes.

What are Leo Messi’s plans for the offseason?

Messi also detailed his plans for his offseason after the Peru match.

But he didn't mention participating in Inter Miami’s two international friendlies against Chinese super teams in early November.

“I will train, I will play our remaining upcoming match and I will try to get here [to the national team] in the best possible way for November [qualifying matches],” Messi said.

“After that, I will enjoy the holidays in Argentina. It’s the first time that I am going to have more days off in December, with the holidays, with peace of mind, with my people. In January, I will return again to do preseason. Start from scratch and prepare as best as possible as always.”

Messi, Inter Miami going to China

Inter Miami will play two friendlies in China on Nov. 5 and 8 to capitalize on Messi’s worldwide brand while enhancing its own globally.

Inter Miami will play Qingdao Hainiu F.C. in Qingdao, China on Nov. 5 at the Qingdao Youth Football Stadium on Nov. 5, and face Chengdu Rongcheng in Chengdu, China on Nov. 8 at the Phoenix Hill Sports Park.

Messi will likely return to the Argentine team for matches against Uruguay on Nov. 16 and Brazil on Nov. 21.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lionel Messi match: Inter Miami vs. Charlotte FC highlights