Inter Miami suffered a reality check with a win in Monterrey and Lionel Messi was eliminated from the Concachampions

Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami have been given a reality check. Rayados de Monterrey proved that Mexican soccer is still above the US MLS. The 3-1 in Wednesday’s rematch and the 5-2 overall in the series, nuances aside, were unappealable for what we saw on (and off) the field during the 180 minutes that lasted the quarter-finals of the Concacaf Champions Cup. Only the Columbus Crew, reigning champions of the MLS, managed to access the semi-finals of these Concachampions, where they will also play Pachuca AND America.

In the collective imagination, the change in format of the highest club competition at continental level – which began to be played with direct elimination and without a group stage – had been established as ‘set’ for the star team from Fort Lauderdale. Around Messi’s arrival there was a link with the presumed need for him to be present at the 2025 Club World Cup, the first which will see the participation of 32 teams and will obviously be played in the United States.

But this Wednesday’s elimination in Monterrey, in Inter Miami’s first trip to Mexico, leaves Las Garzas needing another way to be present at that ecumenical event. There is still a place to be determined for the host country, which will be a given for the champion of the current MLS season, which Argentine coach Gerardo Tata Martino has stressed is the highest goal.

The rematch this Wednesday, in the stadium located in the municipality of Guadalupe, in front of the public, was marked by the previous declarations, by the crosses during and by the impotence of Messi and his teams in this new challenge such as Sergio Busquets, Luis Suárez and Jordi Alba, sent off.

That’s why they booed and booed Messi in Monterrey. For that and also for that great goal at the Lusail stadium for the World Cup in Qatar, a wound that the Mexicans evidently opened and for which La Pulga is completely responsible.

We must not forget how this story began for Las Garzas. With Messi in the box at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, they led 1-0 until the 70th minute. The childish expulsion of David Ruiz and the return of Rayados made La Pulga explode, protagonist of a spicy cross in the locker room revealed by the technical staff of Fernando Ortíz, one of the Argentine coaches established in the Aztec country.

And this Wednesday, with the hope of an unforgettable breakthrough on the scoreboard, goalkeeper Drake Callender had the task of burying every option. He wanted to go out playing, he gave the ball to Brandon Vázquez and the American striker, even fake, did not forgive that fatal blopper.

Messi had two chances in the first half, one just before Rayados made it 1-0 and the other late. In the 25th minute, he was bounced in the area and, in a hurry, took a left-footed shot from close range which he was unable to control and sent it over the crossbar of the goal defended by the Argentinian Esteban Andrada, who then contained a pirouette, assisted by Suárez .

It was another Argentine, Gonzalo Berterame, who sealed history with a formidable and unstoppable right foot, followed by Jesús Gallardo’s header.

The young Paraguayan Diego Gómez put a discount, after Messi’s cross, which was only used for statistics.

Inter Miami’s first international trip allowed them to barely get through one round, that of Nashville. Monterrey has put him on the football map, making him understand that if he wants to compete at an international level not only is the pool of names enough, but he needs a team that Gerardo Martino is still struggling to find. In short, a reality check.