Nashville SC becomes first team to solve the Lionel Messi puzzle

Nashville is also the first team to keep Messi off the scoresheet entirely. He recorded 11 goals and six assists in his previous nine matches with the club, including scoring the opening goal of Miami’s Leagues Cup championship win over Nashville at Geodis Park.

Despite Miami controlling possession for 58.5% of the match, and Messi leading all players with seven shots, Nashville strayed from its typical formation. Instead of pushing the pace more with reigning MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar, who played just 45 minutes, NSC loaded the box with as many bodies as possible — a tactic that stifled an Inter Miami offense that had been averaging a little over three goals per game since Messi’s arrival.

Wednesday’s performance was perhaps even more impressive considering Nashville quieted Messi and the Miami attack without two of its three Designated Players — Sam Surridge and two-time MLS Defender of the Year Walker Zimmerman — plus starting goaltender Joe Willis, who ranks third in MLS in goals-against average (1.04) and is tied for seventh in clean sheets (seven).

“We expected, obviously, to concede possession,” Smith added. “Lionel Messi himself of course can carve an opportunity out of pretty much nothing. I thought tonight the guys did a wonderful job, especially in and around the penalty area, of getting a block on or blocking his passing lanes and genuinely giving it everything they could to try and really blunt that very bright and purposeful attack that Miami have.”

Nashville may have left DRV PNK Stadium without a win and three points, but it did accomplish something Wednesday night. It gave the rest of MLS a blueprint for shutting down the best soccer player in the world.