Inter Miami 3-1 Los Angeles: Messi's brace gives Miami a shocking overturn

The Argentine star scored a brace as The Herons came from behind to beat LAFC as they progress to the semifinals of the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup.

Match Report

There was a small sense of history repeating itself as Lionel Messi put two goals past Hugo Lloris, just as he did at the final in Qatar to help Argentina win the World Cup in 2022. The Inter Miami captain led his team’s comeback against Los Angeles FC with a double to set up an all MLS semi-final of the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup where they will play Vancouver.

Wednesday’s match didn’t get off to a great start for the Fort Lauderdale side as the visitors found the net in the ninth minute as Aaron Long was alert to fire the black and gold ahead to put LA ahead 0-2 on aggregate.

As the half wore on, Inter Miami began to find their groove with Messi a constant source of danger. Messi had a goal ruled out in the 31st minute but were finally on level terms on the night just three minutes later when Luis Suárez fed the Argentine who unleashed a ferocious left footed to level the game on the night.

Messi turns it around

Just after the hour mark, Inter Miami eventually saw their pressure pay off as a cross caught out the LAFC rearguard and sailed into the net.

As the clock ticked towards the 90 minutes mark and with the game at 2-1, LAFC were heading towards the semi-final by virtue of the away goal which is still employed in CONCACAF competitions.

After previously disallowing an earlier Luis Suarez header in the 69th minute, with seven minutes on the clock, VAR was called upon after a LAFC handball from Delgado and this time a spot kick for the home side was awarded.

Despite the pressure involved, Messi kept his nerve and slotted past Hugo Lloris to send the side from Florida through to the semi-final of the 2025 CONCACAF Champions League where they will face Vancouver Whitecaps over two legs.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

9' GOAL! Inter Miami CF 0-1 Los Angeles (Aaron Long)

18' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Los Angeles

20' Highlight from Inter Miami CF vs Los Angeles

22' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Los Angeles

31' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Los Angeles

35' GOAL! Inter Miami CF 1-1 Los Angeles (Lionel Messi)

47' Highlight from Inter Miami CF vs Los Angeles

61' GOAL! Inter Miami CF 2-1 Los Angeles (Noah Allen)

67' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Los Angeles

82' Penalty call! Inter Miami CF  Los Angeles

84' Penalty Goal! Inter Miami CF 3-1 Los Angeles (Lionel Messi)

Line-ups

Inter Miami CF XI: Óscar Ustari, Messi, Suarez, Alba, Maximiliano Falcón, Marcelo Weigandt, Telasco Segovia, Tadeo Allende, Noah Allen, Federico Redondo, Yannick Bright

Subs: Robert Taylor, Fafà Picault, David Martínez, Julian Gressel, Drake Callender, Gonzalo Luján, Ian Fray, Allen Obando, Benja Cremaschi, Tomás Avilés, Santiago Morales, Leo Afonso

Los Angeles XI: Lloris, Mark Delgado, Marlon, Sergi Palencia, Ryan Hollingshead, Aaron Long, Denis Bouanga, Under, Timothy Tillman, Nathan Ordaz, Igor Jesus

Subs: Giroud, Maxime Chanot, Eddie Segura, Yaw Yeboah, David Ochoa, Adam Saldaña, Thomas Hasal, Odin Thiago Holm, Nkosi Tafari, David Martínez, Artem Smolyakov, Adrian Wibowo