FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Lionel Messi stood at midfield with his hands on his hips, fixed his long hair and readjusted his captain’s armband while his Inter Miami teammates stood dumbfounded around him.
They had nothing else to do while waiting for the Vancouver Whitecaps to finish celebrating the knockout blows to their Concacaf Champions Cup run.
Vancouver’s Brian White and Pedro Vite scored goals in a less than two-minute stretch early in the second half, Sebastian Berhalter scored another after assisting on the first two goals, and the Whitecaps trounced Messi and Inter Miami in the semifinals with a 3-1 win – 5-1 aggregate score – in their second leg matchup at Chase Stadium on April 30.
Vancouver – the MLS Supporters’ Shield leaders with 23 points – will play in the Concacaf Champions Cup final on June 1 against either Cruz Azul or Tigres UANL. The LIGA MX clubs will finish their semifinal, tied at 1, on May 1 (10 p.m. ET on FS2).
On the other side, Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano must quickly figure out how to save the 2025 season after the club’s most disappointing loss of the Messi era. They return to action at home against the New York Red Bulls on May 3 (7:30 p.m. ET on MLS Season Pass).
“You have to accept that they were better. They were much better than us. They are in the final and we aren’t. But if we want to compete, we need to improve and we need to learn from this situation,” Mascherano said after the defeat.
If the 5-1 cumulative debacle wasn’t bad enough, this match marked the first time Inter Miami lost three straight times in all competitions since Messi joined in July 2023. Inter Miami has surrendered nine goals during the stretch.
It’s a far cry from how they started the year – unbeaten in 14 straight matches, including an eight-game win streak, before first facing Vancouver on April 24 and losing 2-0 in the first leg of their semifinal.
Messi, 37, wasn’t at the height of his superpowers in either match against Vancouver. He appeared to show some magic when he set up Jordi Alba’s goal in the ninth minute, also assisted by Luis Suarez, to give Inter Miami some life in the semifinal. But he hasn’t scored in his last four matches.
Mascherano – the first-time coach who played at Barcelona with Messi, Suarez, Alba and Sergio Busquets – was vastly outmatched by first-year Vancouver coach Jesper Sørensen.
He used the same listless lineup he used in the first leg at Vancouver, without the likes of prospering midfielders Yannick Bright or Benjamin Cremaschi. The team succumbed again to the early onslaught as the second half got underway.
Suarez, 38, tried his best to make a difference but missed everything he sent toward the net. He’s been scoreless in his last 10 games after finishing as an MLS MVP finalist behind Messi last season.
“I think it’s fair to say that we have a younger team, and also team more capable of running and playing with high intensity,” Sørensen, of Denmark, said after the win.
Sure, Inter Miami’s failure in the MLS Cup playoffs last season – falling to Atlanta United in the first round – was a disastrous way to end 2024 after setting the league record with 74 points and winning the MLS Supporters’ Shield.
This Vancouver loss, however, is a bad sign for more disappointing play to come.
The Champions Cup was the first of five possible trophies Inter Miami was in contention for in 2025. While reaching the semifinal is an accomplishment for the young MLS franchise that was in existence for just 2½ years before Messi joined, failing to reach the final and win it with Messi on board is a shortcoming.
Inter Miami has four remaining titles to contend for – the Club World Cup and Leagues Cup this summer, the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup championship later this season.
But Inter Miami’s prospects for their third title with Messi – after the 2023 Leagues Cup and last year’s Shield – aren’t so bright after their Vancouver performance.
Inter Miami might have legendary star power with all-time greats, but they showed they can be overmatched and overwhelmed in the twilights of their careers when others around them are inexperienced.
“We need to push and take a step forward and try to improve in all the facets,” Mascherano said, “because I think this team can do much better.”
Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Inter Miami highlights
Steven Berhalter goal: Vancouver 3 Inter Miami 1 (Vancouver leads 5-1 on aggregate score)
After a goal in the first leg and two assists in the second leg, Steven Berhalter added a goal in the 71st minute.
Simply put, Vancouver has dominated Messi and Inter Miami in the Champions Cup semifinal and should advance to the June 1 final.
Pedro Vite scores goal: Vancouver 2, Inter Miami 1 (Vancouver leads 4-1 on aggregate score)
Two goals in less than 2 minutes apart, this time by Vancouver’s Pedro Vite in the 53rd minute. Vancouver’s lead over Inter Miami was already commanding, even more so now.
Brian White scores goal: Vancouver 1, Inter Miami 1 (Vancouver leads 3-1 on aggregate score)
Vancouver has extended its semifinal lead with an away goal by Brian White, taking a pass from Sebastian Berhalter in the 51st minute. While this match is tied 1-1, Vancouver leads 3-1 on aggregate score. Inter Miami would need at least three goals to win. It’s 11 goals in 16 games for White.
Berhalter, Redondo get yellow cards before halftime: Inter Miami 1, Vancouver 0 (Vancouver leads 2-1 on aggregate score)
Inter Miami needs a goal to force extra time, and two to win outright – if Vancouver remains scoreless in the second half. But it’s 2-1 aggregate score after Alba’s goal early in the first half.
Before halftime, Vancouver’s Sebastian Berhalter and Inter Miami’s Federico Redondo each got a yellow card. They won’t be available for the Champions Cup final on June 1 due to yellow card accumulation.
Messi misses open shot in the 17th minute: Inter Miami 1, Vancouver 0 (Vancouver leads 2-1 on aggregate score)
Messi had big eyes, but mishit a shot that soared into the stands in the 17th minute. Messi was unable to get a solid strike on the ball as he swung his legendary left leg. One minute later, Luis Suarez missed a shot in front of the net that he tipped to Vancouver goalie Yohei Takaoka.
Jordi Alba scores goal: Inter Miami 1, Vancouver 0 (Vancouver leads 2-1 on aggregate score)
From Lionel Messi to Luis Suarez to Jordi Alba. Just nine minutes into the match. What seemed like a daunting deficit to Vancouver has been cut in half after Alba’s goal in the ninth minute. It’s Alba’s first goal of the year, and a thrilling start by Inter Miami in a must-win game.
What time is Inter Miami vs. Vancouver Concacaf Champions Cup match?
The match begins at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. in Vancouver, 9 p.m. in Argentina).
How to watch Inter Miami vs. Vancouver Concacaf Champions Cup match?
The match is available on FS1 in English, and TUDN/ViX in Spanish.
Is Messi playing tonight?
Messi is in Inter Miami’s starting lineup for today’s match. Here are the lineups for both clubs:
Inter Miami vs. Vancouver prediction
Vancouver 2, Inter Miami 2 (Vancouver advances 4-2 on aggregate scoring: Just one goal will deflate Inter Miami’s comeback hopes. Another would make it even more insurmountable. Vancouver leads the MLS Supporters’ Shield standings with 23 points for several reasons, including a league-leading plus-13 goal differential in the regular season. They’re too fast, well-organized and on a roll primed to shock Inter Miami in the semifinal. Messi may lead Inter Miami’s charge, but this will be a deficit too steep to overcome. –Safid Deen.
Inter Miami vs. Vancouver Whitecaps Champions Cup scoring scenarios
Here’s a breakdown of how many goals Inter Miami and Vancouver need to advance to the Champions Cup final:
Can Messi, Inter Miami reach Concacaf Champions Cup final?
Messi scored two goals and assisted another when he led Inter Miami past Los Angeles FC in the Champions Cup quarterfinals April 9. But Messi has been scoreless in his last four matches.
While Messi rested, Inter Miami settled for a scoreless draw at Chicago April 13; won 1-0 at Columbus April 19; lost 2-0 in Vancouver during the first leg April 24; and fell 4-3 to FC Dallas at home April 27.
Inter Miami is in contention for five possible trophies in 2025 – the Champions Cup being the first in line, but they’re in danger of falling short of the June 1 final. If they fall to Vancouver, it could indicate a limited ceiling this season with aging superstars.
Inter Miami won the Supporters’ Shield for the best regular-season record in 2024, and will contend for the title again this year. They will also pursue the MLS Cup title later this season.
Inter Miami is also set to participate in the Club World Cup and the Leagues Cup tournaments this summer.
Messi, Inter Miami upcoming schedule
May 3: Inter Miami vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m. ET
May 10: Minnesota United vs. Inter Miami, 4:30 p.m. ET
May 14: San Jose vs. Inter Miami, 10:30 p.m. ET
May 18: Inter Miami vs. Orlando City, 7 p.m. ET
May 24: Philadelphia Union vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET
May 28: Inter Miami vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m. ET
May 31: Inter Miami vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m. ET