Lionel Messi once again proved why he is considered one of the greatest footballers of all time, inspiring Inter Miami to a stunning 3-1 comeback win over Los Angeles FC in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals. With the win, Miami advanced 3-2 on aggregate, booking their place in the semifinals of the tournament for the very first time.

Playing in front of a raucous home crowd at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Inter Miami’s night began in the worst possible fashion. LAFC’s Aaron Long scored just nine minutes in, giving the visitors a 2-0 lead on aggregate and forcing Miami to chase the game. But as has been the case since his arrival in South Florida, Messi responded with brilliance and calm.

In the 35th minute, Messi received a pinpoint pass from former Barcelona teammate Luis Suárez and curled a stunning shot into the top right corner to ignite Miami’s comeback. The goal cut LAFC’s aggregate lead in half and lifted the energy on the pitch and in the stands.

The second half was all Inter Miami. Messi remained at the center of the action, orchestrating attacks with his trademark vision and precision. In the 61st minute, a lofted ball intended for Federico Redondo caused chaos in LAFC’s box, eventually finding its way into the net to level the aggregate score at 2-2.

The match reached its climax in the 84th minute when a handball by LAFC’s Mark Delgado resulted in a penalty for the hosts. Messi stepped up and converted the spot kick with his usual composure, completing the 3-1 turnaround and sending Inter Miami to the semifinals.

Luis Suárez revealed after the game that Messi’s leadership played a pivotal role in the team’s mindset. “Leo told us during the game… that even if the other team scored, we needed to remain calm,” Suárez shared. That leadership, paired with Messi’s goal-scoring heroics, was the decisive factor on the night.

Head coach Javier Mascherano was effusive in his praise: “Messi is the soul of this team. He’s the greatest in history, and he’s still making the path and guiding the new generations.”

Since joining Inter Miami in 2023, the 37-year-old Argentine legend has delivered time and again. This season alone, Messi has tallied eight goals and three assists in just nine appearances, bringing his total contributions for the club to an astonishing 63.

With the win, Inter Miami moves on to face the Vancouver Whitecaps in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. They’ll also resume MLS action soon with a key clash against the Chicago Fire, hoping to carry their momentum into domestic competition.

For now, though, the night belongs to Messi a reminder that greatness doesn’t fade, it only finds new stages to shine on.