Lionel Messi Issues Apology After Inter Miami-Atlas

"After the match, he came to me, hugged me, and apologized," the Uruguayan striker revealed. "He felt sorry, and that says a lot about his character as a player."

The Backstory Behind Messi's Outburst Against Atlas

The moment was brewing throughout the match. Inter Miami took a 1-0 lead through Telasco Segovia in the 57th minute, but when Rivaldo Lozano equalized for Atlas in the 80th minute, Coccaro celebrated in front of the IMCF fan section at Chase Stadium.

As Inter Miami captain and historical nemesis of the entire nation of Mexico, Messi took it personally. The 38-year-old put the team on his back by driving through the defense in second half stoppage time to set up the game-winning goal with his second assist of the match.

Messi Felt So Bad He Gave His No. 10 Jersey to Coccaro

Coccaro recognized that Messi's reaction at the final whistle was little more than a response to the tension of the match, but the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner went the extra mile to ensure that his opponent knew he felt bad.

After apologizing personally, Messi swapped jerseys with Coccaro, putting any possible beef to rest.

Inter Miami's Leagues Cup Match Schedule

After picking up the full three points against Atlas, 2023 Leagues Cup champion Inter Miami is off to a strong start in this year's competition.

Their next match in the MLS vs. Liga MX competition is against Necaxa on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET. They finish the group phase against Pumas on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Both matches are at home for Inter Miami, and are available to fans via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Also, a free "Player Spotlight: Messi" broadcast will stream live on Tiktok during the Necaxa match that focuses solely on Messi throughout the entire match.