Lionel Messi and Inter Miami said goodbye to their 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup title hopes after losing 1-3 in the second leg of their semifinal match against the Vancouver Whitecaps at Chase Stadium. They lost 5-1 on aggregate.
Miami arrived at the second-leg match with the mission of scoring at least three goals to reach a historic final. In that sense, they started the match strong and opened the scoring with a Barcelona-style play between Messi, Luis Suarez, and Jordi Alba, who found the back of the net in the ninth minute.
While Javier Mascherano’s men seemed poised to keep the pressure on Vancouver, their momentum vanished in the second half. In less than three minutes, the Whitecaps regained the lead with back-to-back goals from Brian White (51’) and Pedro Vite (53’). Sebastian Berhalter scored the third at the 71th minute mark.
With this elimination from the Concacaf Champions Cup, Messi missed another chance to add a new trophy to his cabinet. Since joining Miami, the Argentine star has won two official titles: the Leagues Cup in 2023 and the Supporters’ Shield in 2024.
Lionel Messi reacts during the second leg match vs Vancouver (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
This season, they are still competing in the MLS regular season, where they currently sit fifth in the Eastern Conference after a 4-3 loss to Dallas. They are also set to take part in the FIFA Club World Cup, which begins in June.
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Lamine Yamal reaches 100 appearances with Barcelona: how old was Lionel Messi when he hit the same milestone?
How many trophies has Messi won in his career?
Messi is the most decorated player in football history. The Argentine star has won 46 trophies in his career, including 1 World Cup, 10 La Liga titles, 4 Champions League titles, 7 Copa del Rey titles, and many more.
Comparison: How many trophies has Cristiano Ronaldo won with Al Nassr?
While Messi and Ronaldo no longer play in the same league, comparisons between the two remain a constant topic among fans. Ronaldo, who was also eliminated from the AFC Champions League Elite today, has won a total of 34 collective titles.
