IInter Miami drew 0-0 with Nashville SC in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16, meaning the series will be decided next Wednesday at Chase Stadium. Lionel Messi was unable to score his 900th goal and will have to wait at least until Saturday.
During the first half, Nashville SC were the superior team. They didn’t always control possession, but they were more intense than their opponents and, above all, more dangerous. The hosts had several chances to score but were met with strong interventions from Dayne St. Clair.
The Inter Miami goalkeeper was key in keeping a clean sheet before halftime, making important saves from Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge. In addition, the English forward had another clear chance with a shot that went just wide, while Warren Madrigal also came close with a header that went off target.
Things changed after the break, as Inter Miami came onto the field with more conviction to impose their style and control the ball. They did so for nearly the entire second half, but struggled to create serious scoring opportunities. The clearest chance was a right-footed shot from Messi, saved by goalkeeper Brian Schwake, who spilled the rebound that Berterame was unable to convert.
Lionel Messi of Inter Miami controls the ball during the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match against Nashville SC.
The hosts, less prominent than in the first half, again created the majority of the chances. Hany Mukhtar came close with a shot that went just wide, while Madrigal also tried on a couple of occasions.
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Messi was unable to score his 900th goal
Beyond the team objective of securing a good result in Nashville to decide the series favorably at Chase Stadium next week, Lionel Messi also had the chance on Wednesday to reach a historic milestone in his career.
The Argentine forward scored his 899th professional goal last weekend in MLS play against D.C. United, counting his club career with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami, as well as his years with the Argentina national team.
He now had the opportunity to score his 900th goal and become only the second player in soccer history—after Cristiano Ronaldo—to reach that mark. However, he had just one real chance throughout the entire match and was unable to achieve the milestone. His next opportunity will come on Saturday, when the Herons visit Charlotte FC in MLS.
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