Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi, played to a scoreless draw against Nashville SC in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16, but must win to advance.
However, during the match, certain factors could lead to the match writing a new chapter in soccer history.
A potentially historic match
This clash between the two teams will not only decide who advances to the CONCACAF Champions Cup, but it could also be the Argentine captain’s last match at Chase Stadium.
The club will open a new 26,700-capacity stadium, called New Stadium, at Miami Freedom Park on April 4th. After the game against Nashville, Inter Miami are scheduled to visit New York FC for an MLS match on March 22nd, and this will be the last match that Javier Mascherano’s side will play at their old stadium, given that Messi will head to his home country to join the Argentina national team’s training camp (they will play Guatemala on March 31st following the cancellation of the Finalissima).
Furthermore, the game to be played this Wednesday, March 18th, could be important for Leo’s personal career as if he scores he will reach 900 career goals in all competitions.
Additionally, Orr said Leo won 16 of the 19 tournaments he played in. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, the Argentine star has the chance to add another title to his collection. It’s the Concacaf Champions League. But first he needs to get through this match. Only a victory will secure a ticket to the quarterfinals.
In the event of a scoreless draw, the match will be played in two 15-minute overtime periods, followed by a penalty shootout if necessary. However, if a goal is scored, Nashville will advance to the next round, as the away team’s goal will be taken into account to determine the winner, even if both teams have the same number of points. (Note that in overtime when the score is 0-0, there is no distinction between home team and opposing team goals.)
Without a doubt, this match promises to be historic.
