Lionel Messi of Inter Miami speaks to the official throughout the second half in the game in opposition to Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium on October 21, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images
Lionel Messi performed the entire game on synthetic turf in Inter Miami’s season finale on Saturday evening, and Charlotte FC certified for the MLS playoffs with a 1-0 victory.
Messi shared the highlight with Charlotte’s bid to qualify for the postseason on the final day of the common season in a game that drew 66,101 at Charlotte’s 74,000-seat Bank of America Stadium.
Messi, who led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title, was the clear drawing card, and 1000’s in attendance had been adorned in “Messi 10” jerseys.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner as the world’s prime participant went the distance in the meaningless game for Miami, which had already been eradicated from playoff rivalry. He completed with three photographs and had two scoring possibilities. Messi’s obvious objective in the 49th minute was negated by an offside name, and his shot in the 62nd minute bounded off the crossbar.
Messi had 11 targets in 14 matches with Miami this season. The staff was winless in his closing six league matches (three losses, three attracts) and had 4 wins, 4 losses and 4 attracts in the league since he joined the staff in mid-July.
Messi, who scored twice for Argentina in its 2-0 World Cup qualifying win at Peru on Tuesday evening and didn’t play the subsequent day in a make-up game in opposition to Charlotte, didn’t tackle the media after the game. He had one media availability in a half-season with staff, on August 17.
Charlotte delivered for its followers. The second-year franchise wanted a victory over Miami and assist from different outcomes to say one in all the two remaining Eastern Conference playoff spots in a scramble of 5 groups. The Chicago Fire and CF Montreal misplaced earlier Saturday and that allowed Charlotte to clinch a playoff berth with a victory.
Kerwin Vargas’ objective in the 13th minute was sufficient to seal the historic victory, and Charlotte held Miami with out a objective down the stretch in a season in which it has yielded many late-game targets.
Charlotte will end the 2023 season second in league attendance; Charlotte FC was averaging 33,634 coming into Saturday’s regular- season finale.
“I knew it was because Messi was in town,” Charlotte FC coach Christian Lattanzio stated of the massive crowd. “The extra they arrive to see us they may see we are able to play toe-to-toe with the finest in the world.
“I’m very, very proud of the boys. They have been working very, very hard.”
Messi is anticipated to play in Inter Miami’s colours on Nov. 5 and Nov. 8, when the staff plays two exhibition matches in China. It’ll be the first time Inter Miami goes on a international tour. Argentina then has extra World Cup qualifiers on Nov. 16 and Nov. 21 — after which Messi ought to get an prolonged break earlier than Inter Miami begins getting ready for 2024.
Inter Miami CF coach Gerardo Martino stated his staff completed the season wearied by its heavy schedule.
“We had three tournaments and won one,” Martino stated by means of translator. “The staff was exhausted. That’s no excuse. That’s the actuality.