Lionel Messi’s MLS season ends with Miami loss to Charlotte

Lionel Messi’s First MLS Season Ends in Defeat as Charlotte FC Beats Inter Miami 1-0

Lionel Messi returned to the starting lineup but couldn’t prevent his first MLS season from ending in defeat as Charlotte FC beat Inter Miami 1-0 in front of a crowd of 66,101 at Bank of America Stadium.

The game had massive implications for Charlotte, as a win and results elsewhere allowed the second-year team to qualify for the MLS playoffs for the first time.

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Kerwin Vargas scored the game’s only goal in the 13th minute, but Miami came close on numerous occasions to finding an equalizer that would have ended Charlotte’s postseason hopes.

Messi had a free kick saved onto the post in the 62nd minute and also had a goal ruled out for offside at the start of the second half. Then in a thrilling finale, Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina made multiple standout saves to keep Miami out.

Charlotte finished ninth in the Eastern Conference to claim the final playoff spot and will face a wild-card match against the New York Red Bulls.

Miami, which was 15th and last in the Eastern Conference when Messi and fellow ex-Barcelona stars Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba arrived in July, finished 14th with 34 points from 34 games. The team was winless in his final six league matches (three losses, three draws) and had four wins, four losses and four draws in the league since Messi joined the team.

Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino acknowledged that his team finished the season exhausted from a heavy schedule, stating, “The team was exhausted. That’s no excuse. That’s the reality.”

Miami and Charlotte also played to a 2-2 draw earlier in the week, with Messi absent from Wednesday’s game due to his international commitments. Messi is set to play in two exhibition matches in China with Inter Miami before shifting his focus to Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers.

Messi concluded his first MLS season with 11 goals in 14 matches for Inter Miami. Despite a leg injury that hindered his playing time, Messi made a significant impact on the team’s success, helping them win the Leagues Cup championship.

Inter Miami struggled in the absence of Messi, with a record of 1-3-3 in seven matches without him since his arrival. His presence on the field proved invaluable, with Miami going 8-2-4 in games where he played.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.