It only took 10 games for <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lionel-messi">Lionel Messi</a> to win his first title in the United States. The Argentine superstar helped <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/inter-miami">Inter Miami</a> lift the Leagues Cup, and now hopes to get them close to another trophy when they face Cincinnati FC.



The Herons will take on the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/mls">MLS</a> leaders in the 2023 US Open Cup semifinals, with a place in the tournament-decider up for grabs. The winner will take on Houston Dynamo or Real Salt Lake in the final.


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/lionel-messi-on-pace-to-take-a-significant-record-away-from-cristiano-ronaldo-20230821-BUS-50123.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230821_BUS_50123_Messi-vs-Ronaldo.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Lionel Messi&apos;s red-hot start at Inter Miami put him close to matching an impressive record set by Cristiano Ronaldo.
" title="Lionel Messi on pace to take a significant record away from Cristiano Ronaldo" publication_id="BUS#20230821#BUS#50123"></div>


Of course, Leo’s level in the Leagues Cup suggests Cincinnati will have a challenging task in trying to stop him. Colombian defender Santiago Arias, in fact, admitted the only way to stand a chance against Messi is with teamwork.



<h2>Santiago Arias knows stopping Messi won’t be easy for Cincinnati</h2>



“I don’t know how he can be stopped (laughs),” Arias told EFE. “It’s teamwork, trying to get the ball out of him, we know it’s not easy. Everyone knows the offensive power that Messi has, the quality that he has, what a good player he is, but in the end we will try not to let him do too much.



“Not only him, because we know that there are other players who also play very well. I think this match will be won by whoever is focused for the 90 minutes. … It’s going to be a pretty difficult game, especially now with the players that Miami has. It’s going to be a nice match. Right now there is as much respect for us as there is for them.”


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/lionel-messi-changes-the-narrative-draws-praise-from-french-press-20230822-BUS-50591.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230822_BUS_50591_Lionel-Messi-1-1.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="After years of being slammed by different outlets, Lionel Messi was praised by the French media after his Leagues Cup victory with Inter Miami.
" title="Lionel Messi changes the narrative, draws praise from French press" publication_id="BUS#20230822#BUS#50591"></div>


Cincinnati will put much of their hopes on Arias, since he has experience playing against world-class players from his time in Europe. However, Messi means a bigger challenge even for a defender of his caliber.

Cincinnati FC player gets brutally honest on how to stop Messi: 'I don't know'

Cincinnati FC player gets brutally honest on how to stop Messi: 'I don't know' - Bolavip US

Cincinnati FC player gets brutally honest on how to stop Lionel Messi: 'I don't know...'

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Cincinnati FC player gets brutally honest on how to stop Lionel Messi: 'I don't know...'