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What Does Concacaf Champions Cup Exit Mean For Lionel Messi & Inter Miami?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Manuel Meza Cienfuegos | Last updated Mar 18, 2026 10:03 PM ET

Inter Miami experienced one of its bitterest nights in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup. The Herons drew 1-1 with Nashville SC in the second leg of the Round of 16, but were eliminated on the away goals rule following the 0-0 draw in the first leg.

The match produced a brutal contrast: while Lionel Messi reached the historic milestone of 900 goals in his career, his team bid an early farewell to the continental tournament.

This represents a heavy blow for the club co-owned by David Beckham, as being eliminated from contention for the CCC also means losing the chance to qualify for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. Therefore, Messi and his team will not be able to aspire to win everything as they had hoped.

This defeat is a failure for Miami, considering the heavy investment made in the offseason to assemble a squad capable of competing at the continental level.

Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF looks rejected during the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 Second Leg match between Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC at Chase Stadium on March 18, 2026, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images

The match seemed headed toward Inter Miami. Messi opened the scoring and sparked hope at Chase Stadium with a historic goal.

However, the lead was not enough to secure passage. The lack of killer instinct ultimately took its toll.

Just when the home side appeared to have control, Cristian Espinoza emerged. With 15 minutes remaining, the Nashville attacker scored the goal that silenced the stadium and completely changed the course of the match.

The 1-1 draw, combined with the 0-0 first-leg result, advanced Nashville on the away goals criterion. The elimination represents another blow to Inter Miami's ambitious project, adding another failure in the tournament:

2024: Eliminated in quarterfinals
2025: Eliminated in semifinals
2026: Eliminated in the Round of 16

Despite boasting a star-studded squad, the team has not managed to establish itself as dominant in Concacaf. The elimination raises questions about the club's direction and its ability to compete in international tournaments.

The challenge now will be to rebuild confidence and focus on MLS, where they still have room to compete.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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