On Wednesday night, Inter Miami made their 2025 Leagues Cup debut with a last-minute victory over Atlas of Mexico. Lionel Messi played a key role with two assists, and after the final whistle, he gave an interview in which he addressed the controversial suspension handed down by Major League Soccer last week.
“Not playing the other day, even if it seems better for me on paper, is actually worse because I need to compete,” Messi told Apple TV minutes after the match at Chase Stadium. “I feel good physically when I play games and find my rhythm.”
However, the Argentine forward made it clear that last week’s inactivity affected him in the early stages of the match against Atlas. “At the beginning, I felt a bit sluggish. I had been playing consistently, and the other day they didn’t let me play, and I felt it—especially in the first half. But the important thing is that we won.”
Subtly, Messi took a jab at MLS for the suspension issued Friday due to his unexcused absence from the All-Star Game. That decision prevented him from playing on Saturday against FC Cincinnati, creating an 11-day gap between his last game (a 5–1 win over New York Red Bulls) and the Leagues Cup opener.
Marcelo Weigandt #57 of Inter Miami celebrates his second half goal with teammate Lionel Messi #10 during the Leagues Cup match vs Atlas FC.
Messi excited about the Leagues Cup
In the same interview, Messi spoke about what the Leagues Cup means for Inter Miami. “It’s a competition we like. It’s short and gives you the chance to fight for a title and qualify for next year’s Concacaf Champions Cup… We won it (in 2023), I couldn’t play last year but we had a great run. It’s a good challenge for us to play against Mexican teams—something to enjoy,” said Leo.
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Leagues Cup 2025 TV schedule and streaming info for U.S. viewers
Speaking on the Herons’ performance so far in 2025, the forward sounded optimistic. “We’re here to compete. I think we had a great run in the Champions Cup at the start of the season—we came just short of the final,” Messi began. “In the league, we’re near the top of the standings, we had a strong showing in the Club World Cup, and we have a great squad.”
Messi praises De Paul’s arrival at Inter Miami
Finally, Lionel Messi commented on Rodrigo De Paul’s arrival at Inter Miami. “We’ve known each other for a while. We’ve played a lot of matches together, and he brings a new level of quality to the squad,” said Leo, who has played alongside the midfielder for more than six years on the Argentina national team.
“He’s come in with a lot of energy. Today, even with little training, he gave it everything—and running here isn’t easy, with the humidity, the heat, and the high temperatures,” the forward emphasized. “The important thing is that the team competed really well and we took three very important points.”
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