Following a foul on Luis Suarez, Messi stepped up to take the penalty. After taking a small hop before striking the ball, he shot, and his shot was saved by goalkeeper Brian Schwake. The ball fell to Sergio Reguilon, who scored the equalizer, but the play was overturned due to encroachment by the Spaniard. Still, the miss officially counted in the statistics against the star forward.

This marked the second penalty missed by Messi with Inter Miami (having converted five), bringing his tally to three consecutive failed attempts. His previous two misses came with the Argentina national team during the World Cup, first against Austria in the group stage and then versus Egypt in the round of 16.

What is Cristiano Ronaldo’s worst penalty miss streak?

Cristiano Ronaldo‘s worst streak of missed penalties stands at two consecutive failed attempts back in 2016. On March 20, 2016, playing for Real Madrid, he sent his shot over the crossbar against Sevilla in La Liga (though he later made up for it by scoring in open play).

The second miss came just five days later, on March 25, 2016, in his next match with Portugal. Bulgarian goalkeeper Vladislav Stoyanov saved his penalty in a friendly ahead of the Euros.

Until this current slump, Messi had never missed three consecutive penalties during a match throughout his professional career. The forward had gone through various periods of low efficiency from the spot and had even chained together two missed attempts, but he had never reached three in a row.

Messi’s career penalty record

This negative statistic contrasts with the overall numbers Messi has built over more than two decades. Between in-game penalties and shootouts, he has taken 162 penalties in his professional career, converting 125, seeing 28 saved by goalkeepers, and sending 9 wide or high. His overall effectiveness stands at 77.16 percent.

With Barcelona, he took 107 penalties and converted 82. With PSG, he scored two of three in regulation and converted his only attempt in a shootout. With Argentina, he has 25 goals in 32 attempts during matches and seven conversions in nine shootout attempts. With Inter Miami, he has converted all three shootout attempts and has five goals in seven attempts during regulation time.

Nashville currently occupy the top spot in the table with 40 points through 18 matchdays. However, Lionel Messi and company follow closely behind with 38 points, meaning a victory for the Herons in Nashville would elevate them to the top of the East.

A continental elimination left a bitter taste for Guillermo Hoyos’ squad. Now, the main objective is to remain near the top of MLS and reach peak form for the final stretch of the championship. A victory against Nashville would represent a statement win against one of their primary rivals for the top spot.

Inter Miami confirmed lineup

Lionel Messi will start against Nashville SC. The Argentine put behind a difficult personal period that kept him off the pitch for several matches, returning as a substitute against Leon. Now with improved match fitness, Javier Hoyos is confirmed to return him to the starting XI for a crucial match in the fight for the MLS leadership.

Inter Miami confirmed lineup: Dayne St. Clair; Noah Allen, Sergio Reguilon, Gonzalo Lujan, Ian Fray; Telasco Segovia, Yannick Bright, Casemiro, Rodrigo De Paul; Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez.

Nashville confirmed starting XI

B.J. Callaghan’s team must quickly shift focus back to domestic competition, where it has maintained a high-level campaign with few roster changes. The match against Inter Miami presents a direct opportunity to extend its lead at the top of the East to five points. The main challenge will be recovering energy following a demanding week against a direct rival.

Nashville confirmed lineup: Brian Schwake; Andy Najar, Jeisson Palacios, Maxwell Woledzi, Reed Baker-Whiting; Elias Saad, Matthew Corcoran, Sandvik Tagseth; Cristian Espinoza, Sam Surridge, Hany Mukhtar.

The Argentine star recently suffered the loss of his father, Jorge, and made his return to the pitch in Miami’s most recent Leagues Cup match against Club Leon. However, Hoyos spoke about “silence” as part of Messi’s recovery process, but Messi is going to be a starter against Nashville.

Messi is confirmed to start; this is Inter Miami’s starting lineup for the match against Nashville SC. Dayne St. Clair; Noah Allen, Sergio Reguilon, Gonzalo Lujan, Ian Fray; Telasco Segovia, Yannick Bright, Casemiro, Rodrigo De Paul; Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez.

Inter Miami and Nashville SC face off once again

The upcoming clash marks the 22nd all-time meeting between Inter Miami and Nashville SC. The Herons hold the upper hand in the historic series with 10 victories to Nashville’s five, along with six draws. Coming off a strong recent stretch that includes a win and a draw in their last three matchups, Inter Miami will look to keep their unbeaten run alive against their Eastern Conference rivals.

The Eastern Conference heats up

Heading into the August 15 matchday, the Eastern Conference standings feature a tight battle at the top, with Nashville SC leading the pack with 40 points from 18 matches. Inter Miami remain in hot pursuit right behind them in second place with 38 points, setting up an intense fight for the summit, while the New England Revolution hold third place with 30 points as they look to keep pace with the top two contenders.

What’s next for the Herons?

With the goal of staying firmly in the race at the top of the standings, Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami face a challenging stretch of matches. The team cannot afford to drop points if it wants to establish itself at the top of the table.

• at Philadelphia, August 19
• vs Toronto, August 22
• vs Montreal, August 29
• vs Atlanta, September 5

The Herons started the group stage on the right foot. Last Wednesday, Inter Miami earned a 4-2 victory over Atletico San Luis behind a brilliant performance from Messi, who scored two goals and delivered an assist in his return to the starting XI following the 2026 World Cup with the Argentina national team.

However, last Saturday Inter Miami fell 2-1 to Mexico’s Monterrey in an emotional match played without Messi. Early that morning, the Argentine captain received news that his father, Jorge Messi, passed away in Rosario following a months-long battle with an illness.

Inter Miami confirmed lineup

The primary question surrounding this match centers on Messi’s presence with the MLS franchise. However, the Argentine star will not feature this evening but is going to start on the bench following the passing of his father, Jorge Messi, creating a difficult situation.

Guillermo Hoyos is confirmed to line up as follows: Rocco Rios Novo; Ian Fray, Lujan, Micael, Noah Allen; Telasco Segovia, Casemiro, Rodrigo De Paul, Yannick Bright; Lovend’s Delinois, and Daniel Pinter.

Leon confirmed lineup

Mexico’s Leon enter this match with a perfect record and know that a victory will secure qualification for the quarterfinals. In its opener, the squad earned a 1-0 win over Nashville SC before defeating Orlando City 2-1, and it now heads to Miami seeking to lock up a spot in the knockout round.

Javier Gandolfi has delivered excellent results and is confirmed to field the following side: Oscar Garcia; Sebastian Vegas, Juan Guevara, Jhohan Romana, Ivan Moreno, Sebastian Santos; Ivan Rodriguez, Daniel Arcila, Fernando Beltran, Rodrigo Echeverria; Jordi Cortizo.

The Herons enter the final match of the opening phase with three points, following a 4-2 victory over Atletico de San Luis and a 2-1 defeat to Monterrey. The scenario grew more complex following results from the previous matchday. Charlotte’s loss to Pachuca and Cincinnati’s defeat against Atlas left a door open for Inter Miami, but Real Salt Lake’s blowout victory over Juarez raised the stakes.

Leon, managed by Javier Gandolfi, arrives with a perfect record of six points after defeating Nashville SC and Orlando City. They are the surprise team of the tournament and, if they do not lose in 90 minutes, they will become the first Liga MX side to secure a spot in the quarterfinals. The match also marks the first official meeting between the two clubs.

What happens if Inter Miami win vs Leon?

If they beat Leon in regulation time, Inter Miami will reach six points and preserve a mathematical chance of qualification. However, a win does not guarantee a top-four finish among MLS teams.

Miami needs Austin FC, Chicago Fire, and FC Dallas to lose their respective matches. They must also hope other trailing teams do not exceed six points, while improving their current +1 goal differential. Chicago, Austin, and Dallas must lose in regulation, while LAFC must not win in regulation.

None of these teams can win by a larger margin than Miami manages (if Miami’s margin is +2). If several clubs finish tied at six points, the first tiebreaker is goal differential, followed by regulation wins, goals scored, goals conceded, and Fair Play points.

What happens if Inter Miami and Leon tie?

In the Leagues Cup, all matches level after 90 minutes are decided via a penalty shootout. Each team receives one point, with the shootout winner earning an additional point.

If Miami wins the penalty shootout, they will finish with five points; if they lose the shootout, they will end with four points. In either scenario, they will be eliminated because they cannot reach the clubs that already have six or more points.

What happens if Inter Miami lose vs Leon?

A loss leaves the squad with three points and immediately confirms its elimination. It would also mark its earliest exit from the tournament since Lionel Messi’s arrival in 2023.

How to watch Inter Miami vs Club Leon in the USA

Inter Miami vs. Club Leon will be available to stream live on Apple TV in the United States. There is no traditional U.S. TV channel listed for this specific matchup, so the platform is the primary way to watch the game.

Can I watch Inter Miami vs Club Leon for free?

Eligible new Apple TV subscribers can watch Inter Miami vs. Club Leon through the seven-day free trial. The platform currently lists a 7-day free trial for new subscribers, followed by a $12.99 monthly subscription.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

Inter Miami and Club Leon meet in the final Phase One match of the 2026 Leagues Cup, with both clubs entering the matchup on three points and still fighting for a place in the quarterfinals.

Inter Miami opened the tournament with a 4-2 victory over Atletico de San Luis before falling 2-1 to CF Monterrey, while Leon began with a 1-0 win over Nashville SC and then beat Orlando City 2-0. The latest Leagues Cup standings have Leon on six points, while Inter Miami sits on three.

For Miami, the match represents an opportunity to close Phase One strongly at Nu Stadium, where the club is hosting all three of its opening-round games. The Herons are competing in their fourth Leagues Cup campaign and are looking to build on their history in the competition after winning the 2023 edition.

Club Leon has the more favorable position heading into the final matchday, having collected two wins and six points from its opening two games. That puts the Liga MX club in a strong position to secure one of the four available quarterfinal spots from its league’s table. They are 4th in the ranking.

Inter Miami vs Club Leon: Predicted Lineups

Inter Miami (4-4-2): Rocco Rios Novo; Noah Allen, Micael, Facundo Mura, Ian Fray; Telasco Segovia, Yannick Bright, Casemiro, Rodrigo De Paul; Daniel Pinter, Schneider Delinois.

Club Leon (4-1-4-1): Jordan Garcia; Sebastian Vegas, Carlos Guevara, Jhohan Romana, Ivan Moreno; Jose Rodriguez; Jhon Arcila, Fernando Beltran, Rodrigo Echeverria, Jordi Cortizo; Ettson Ayon.

What time is the Inter Miami vs Club Leon match?

The Inter Miami vs. Club León match kicks off on Wednesday, August 12, at 7:30 PM ET. The game will be played at Nu Stadium in Miami, Florida, with Inter Miami’s official schedule confirming the 7:30 p.m. ET start time.

• Eastern Time: 7:30 PM
• Central Time: 6:30 PM
• Mountain Time: 5:30 PM
• Pacific Time: 4:30 PM

In an open letter to his late father, Messi spoke as truthfully as ever, shedding light on the behind-the-scenes reality of his career over the past few weeks, throughout the 2026 World Cup and during his games with Inter Miami. As the Argentine prepares to resume the 2026 MLS season with the Herons, he revealed that he’s having trouble finding the motivation to keep playing professional soccer now that his idol has passed away.

“I don’t know what I will do without you. I don’t know how to move forward. I only played soccer, and now I have many doubts about whether I’ll keep doing it much longer,” Messi stated on an Instagram post. “You were by my side from the beginning, and there was so little left before the end. Why couldn’t you resist a little longer so we could finish together?”

Messi played 2026 World Cup for his father

In his letter to Jorge, Lionel revealed many things that were unknown to many, including his father’s role in convincing him to play at the 2026 World Cup with Argentina. Throughout his heartbreaking letter, Messi also revealed he struggled physically during the World Cup, but kept going for his dad.

That’s one more thing soccer fans across the globe must thank the late Jorge Messi for. Not only did he father one of the greatest players in the sport’s history, but he gave fans all over the world the chance to see the Argentine ace at his best even at 39.

“You asked me so much to play in the World Cup, and just when it was about to start was when you got worse. I told you we would reach the final so you could be at the stadium. After every game, I waited for and missed your message. That’s when I realized the situation was really ugly. You couldn’t enjoy anything. We weren’t champions, but you have no idea just how much we enjoyed it. Once more, you were right: I had to play in the World Cup,” Messi wrote on his Instagram.

Could Messi retire soon?

Much was speculated about Messi’s future after the 2026 World Cup, which was most likely his last. However, initial reports indicated that the Argentine magician would represent La Albiceleste in upcoming international friendlies, World Cup qualifiers, and tournaments like the Copa America and Finalissima.

Still, the passing of his father could change everything. As things stand, Messi is under contract with Inter Miami through the 2028 MLS season, but he could find a way out of the deal if he truly wants to step away from the sport.

Only time will tell how serious Messi is about hinting at retirement or whether it’s simply the emotional side of him speaking after losing his guide.

That said, Guillermo Hoyos’ attacking options are once again depleted by significant absences. It is worth noting that Luis Suarez will also miss this crucial game as he is still serving a six-match suspension.

With that in mind, this is the confirmed starting XI that the manager will field as he looks to secure qualification for the next round: Rocco Rios Novo; Ian Fray, Lujan, Micael, Noah Allen; Telasco Segovia, Casemiro, Rodrigo De Paul, Yannick Bright; Lovend’s Delinois, and Daniel Pinter.

How do Inter Miami and Club Leon enter this match?

Heading into Matchday 3 of the 2026 Leagues Cup, Club Leon arrive in commanding position after securing consecutive victories in Phase One, most recently a 2-1 win over Orlando City SC, leaving them top of the standings with six points and a chance to lock up a Quarterfinal berth.

In contrast, Inter Miami enter in a high-stakes, must-win situation; after a 4-2 opening victory over Atletico de San Luis, the Herons suffered a dramatic 2-1 defeat to CF Monterrey courtesy of a 90th-minute winner.

Avoiding their first group-stage elimination

Inter Miami have never been eliminated in the group stage of the Leagues Cup. In the tournament’s inaugural expanded format in 2023, Lionel Messi and the Herons swept through the group stage and went on to win the entire competition.

They successfully sustained that streak through the 2024 and 2025 editions, navigating the opening phase to reach the knockout rounds and preserving a flawless record of progression past the group stage in every tournament appearance.

The first step toward this potential move is already aligned thanks to current contractual schedules. Neymar is on track to become a free agent in January 2027, which would eliminate any transfer fee for the Florida club.

Meanwhile, Messi has a contract secured through the end of the 2028 season, setting up the perfect timeline for their paths to cross once more—an exciting prospect for everyone hoping to see them play together.

Strict MLS Rules and the designated player spot

The primary obstacle standing in the way of the Brazilian landing in Miami is found in the strict MLS Roster Rules and Regulations. MLS operates under a rigid salary cap, but permits a maximum of three Designated Players (DPs) per team. This exception allows clubs to pay unlimited salaries to three of their stars, ensuring that only a minimal fraction of those wages impacts the overall roster cap.

Currently, Inter Miami has its three coveted Designated Player spots fully occupied, with Messi serving as the immovable centerpiece of that structure. To sign a superstar of Neymar’s caliber, the Florida franchise faces a regulatory dead end: it is required to free up one of these spots before the start of the 2027 season, or the signing will be blocked by the MLS.

To clear a spot, management led by David Beckham and Jorge Mas will need to execute surgical moves in the transfer market. The only viable options are selling one of its current Designated Players to another league—with the remaining candidates being Rodrigo De Paul and German Berterame—sending one out on loan, or injecting General Allocation Money (GAM) to lower their salary charge against MLS rules and reclassify them as a standard roster player.

Here, the most likely scenario, given what it means for the club, is that German Berterame would be the odd man out due to his poor performance since arriving and his limited contributions to the team.

Financial engineering and the feasibility of a reunion

Even if Inter Miami manages to open up a regulatory DP slot, the base salary the club could offer on payroll would not come close to what Neymar is accustomed to earning. To entice the Brazilian, the club would have to replicate the “Messi Formula”: structuring a contract that offsets salary with external commercial deals, a percentage of global broadcast revenue, and potential sponsorships tied to the new stadium complex.

From a strictly sporting and organizational standpoint, the operation also carries a risk that the club must weigh carefully. The Brazilian’s medical history, marked by severe injuries in recent seasons, will force Inter Miami to evaluate whether committing a resource as valuable as a DP spot is worth it for a player who might not guarantee physical consistency through the grueling American schedule.

Melo revealed that Neymar expressed a desire to join Inter Miami. “I got in touch with a friend, and that friend told me that Neymar is going to leave Santos to play for Inter Miami starting in January,” Melo said on FMTV (Felipe Melo TV).

For now, there is no official announcement or publicly confirmed negotiation from Inter Miami, keeping the scenario as a potential market move looking ahead to 2027. Reports point to the American club as one of the most likely destinations for an eventual final chapter in the Brazilian’s career.

A reunion filled with magic

The scenario centers on the forward’s contractual situation. Neymar is under contract with Santos until December 31, 2026. If a renewal is not reached, he would become a free agent to decide the next step of his career. That status could facilitate an eventual arrival in MLS without Inter Miami needing to negotiate a transfer fee with the Brazilian club.

Messi, Suarez, and Neymar shared the attack for three seasons at Barcelona. Between 2014 and 2017, they generated 363 goals and 173 assists, figures that turned MSN into one of the most productive attacking trios in soccer history.

In the 2014-15 season, they scored 122 goals across all competitions. A year later, they elevated that number to a record 131, while in their final season together, they combined for another 110 goals.

Messi contributed 153 goals across those three seasons (58, 41, and 54). Suarez scored 120 (25, 59, and 36), while Neymar completed the output with 90 goals (39 in the first campaign, 31 in the second, and 20 in the last).

The Messi-Neymar connection

The connection between Messi and Neymar also produced extraordinary numbers. The two shared the pitch in 161 matches and combined directly for 56 goals, with Neymar assisting Messi 36 times and the Argentine returning the favor on 20 of the Brazilian’s goals.

The Florida team needs a combination of results to stay alive in the tournament featuring Liga MX and MLS clubs. A specific sequence of outcomes could eliminate Inter Miami from the Leagues Cup on Tuesday, a day before their game against Leon.

Jose Armando Rodriguez, who covers the team for Deporte Total, notes that if Charlotte, Cincinnati, and Columbus tie—even if they lose on penalties—and Real Salt Lake defeat Juarez, Messi’s team will be unable to secure a top-four finish in Group B, which is necessary to make the knockout phase.

How Inter Miami started in the Leagues Cup

The Florida club began its participation with a convincing 4-2 victory over Atletico de San Luis, but fell 1-2 to Monterrey on the second matchday. That defeat severely complicated its aspirations, as qualification no longer depends solely on what Guillermo Hoyos’ team does.

The 2026 Leagues Cup competition system establishes that the 18 Liga MX clubs compete in Group A, while the 18 MLS teams compete in Group B. Each side plays three matches against opponents from the opposing league.

A victory awards three points, while a draw gives one point to each team and an additional point to the penalty shootout winner. At the end of this phase, the top four teams from each league advance to the quarterfinals.

That is where the problem lies for Inter Miami. After two matchdays, the Herons have three points and need to win their final match to reach six. But even with a victory against Leon, Leo Messi’s team depend on favorable results in other matches to claim one of the four available spots for MLS clubs.

What is complicating Inter Miami’s path

The Group B landscape highlights the difficulty. Austin FC, Charlotte FC, Chicago Fire, Cincinnati, Columbus Crew, and FC Dallas have six points, meaning Inter Miami need these teams to drop points on the final matchday.

Additionally, LAFC has five points, and Real Salt Lake has four, while Nashville SC, Portland Timbers, NYCFC, Philadelphia Union, Orlando City, Seattle Sounders, and San Diego FC also have three points.