FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Lionel Messi may have suffered an injury, but Inter Miami’s stars were able to salvage their chance to advance in the 2025 Leagues Cup tournament.
New Inter Miami signee Rodrigo De Paul delivered two assists in his second game, including an equalizing header by left back Jordi Alba in added time (90’+2’) and Luis Suarez kicked the game-winning penalty kick in the shootout to secure the victory on Saturday, Aug. 2.
Inter Miami earns two points in the Leagues Cup MLS standings after the 2-2 (5-4 on penalty kicks) win. They have five points atop the table, but that standing could be short-lived with six matches to be played on Aug. 3, and another round of matches in the group stage Aug. 5-7.
De Paul, Benjamin Cremaschi, Alba, Federico Redondo and Suarez scored the penalty kicks, while Inter Miami goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo blocked a kick by Tomás Badaloni in the third round of the shootout to help them win without Messi.
Messi sustained an upper, right-leg injury in the opening minutes, leaving the match at Chase Stadium in the 11th minute, following an offensive charge to the penalty area that saw him trip and fall before his right thigh was evaluated by trainers near the Inter Miami bench.
Badaloni (33’) and Ricardo Monreal (81’) scored for Necaxa, while Inter Miami’s Telasco Segovia scored in the 12th minute, shortly after Messi’s injury exit.
Both clubs finished the match playing with 10 men due to red card ejections.
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Here’s everything you need to know about the Inter Miami-Necaxa match, and stay tuned for live updates from USA TODAY Sports:
Inter Miami vs. Necaxa highlights
Inter Miami wins penalty shootout vs. Necaxa 5-4, results
Here are the results:
Necaxa: Agustín Palavecino scores, 1-0
Inter Miami: Rodrigo De Paul scores, 1-1.
Necaxa: Johan Rojas scores, 2-1.
Inter Miami: Benjamin Cremaschi scores, 2-2.
Necaxa: Tomás Badaloni blocked by Rocco Ríos Novo. 2-2.
Inter Miami: Jordi Alba scores, 3-2.
Necaxa: Ricardo Monreal scores, 3-3.
Inter Miami: Federico Redondo scores, 4-3.
Necaxa: Ezequiel Unsain scores, 4-4.
Inter Miami: Luis Suarez score, wins 5-4.
Inter Miami 2, Necaxa 2: Jordi Alba scores equalizer with header
Inter Miami 1, Necaxa 0: Telasco Segovia scores goal
Shortly after Messi’s substitution, Telasco Segovia scored to give Inter Miami an early lead. The score also marks the first assist for Rodrigo De Paul in his second match with Inter Miami.
Messi leaves Inter Miami match with injury
Is Messi playing tonight? Inter Miami vs. Necaxa starting lineups
Yes, Messi is playing and in the starting lineup, announced before the match.
What time is Inter Miami vs. Necaxa Leagues Cup match?
The match begins at 7 p.m. ET (8 p.m. in Argentina).
How to watch Inter Miami vs. Necaxa in Leagues Cup?
The match is available to live stream on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
Necaxa coach knows Messi, Inter Miami well
Necaxa, which beat Atlanta United 3-1 in its Leagues Cup opener July 30, is led by new coach Fernando Gago.
Gago was a starter alongside Messi and Mascherano in Argentina’s 1-0 win in the Olympic men’s soccer final in 2008, and came off the bench in their loss to Germany in the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup final.
“It’s always special to face people you know, people you’ve shared so many good times with,” Mascherano said of Gago. “And in the end, when the ball starts rolling, I’ll try to do everything I can to compete in the best way possible and win so we can still hope to qualify.”
Inter Miami vs. Necaxa prediction
Inter Miami 4, Necaxa 1: Messi finds the back of the net again for two goals, Luis Suarez and Tadeo Allende score as Inter Miami cruises to a victory at home. — Safid Deen
Inter Miami vs. Necaxa betting odds
Here are the betting odds, according to BetMGM.
Inter Miami: -220
Draw: +340
Necaxa: +400
Over/under: 3.5
Inter Miami upcoming schedule
Aug. 6: Inter Miami vs. Pumas, 7:30 p.m. ET (Leagues Cup)
Aug. 10: Orlando City vs. Inter Miami, 8 p.m. (MLS regular season)
Aug. 16: Inter Miami vs. LA Galaxy, 7:30 p.m. (MLS regular season)
Aug. 19 or 20: Leagues Cup quarterfinals (if applicable)
Aug. 23: D.C. United vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET (MLS regular season)