Inter Miami Misses Messi, but Not a Beat
No Messi? No problem. Inter Miami faced Pumas UNAM in a game that had everything on the line for both clubs, but the Herons showed they can thrive even without their biggest star. Lionel Messi sat this one out with a torn hamstring picked up in the previous bout with Necaxa. Eyes quickly turned to the rest of Miami's all-star cast—most notably Luis Suárez, who stepped up big when his team needed him most.
Fans could feel the tension. Both sides needed a win to keep their Leagues Cup hopes alive. Inter Miami had been hanging on to third place in the MLS, while Pumas clawed through Liga MX to sit fifth. This wasn't just about points. This was about pride, momentum, and proving depth beyond one legend.
How the Game Was Won: Suarez, De Paul, and an Unstoppable Spirit
The lineup was always going to spark debate with Messi missing. Rocco Rios Novo took command between the posts, backed by a defense featuring Marcelo Weigandt, Gonzalo Luján, Maximiliano Falcon, and Jordi Alba. In midfield, Miami trusted Rodrigo De Paul and Yannick Bolasie. For Pumas, Jorge Ruvalcaba provided most of their threat up front.
Pumas made the first statement with the opening goal, showing they didn't travel to Miami just to fill in the schedule. But instead of collapsing, Miami turned up the pressure. Luis Suárez, after struggling through a nine-game drought, snapped back into form. He coolly buried Miami’s first penalty in club history with a cheeky panenka, ending a 22-game stretch with no spot kicks even attempted. It lit up the stadium and shot confidence through the team.
If that wasn’t enough, Rodrigo De Paul got in on the action. He notched his first goal for the club, sliding into the spaces usually prowled by Messi and pulling strings in midfield. Jordi Alba showed why experience matters—locking down leaks on defense while pushing up to join attacks. When Tadeo Allende fired in Miami’s third, any lingering nerves were gone. Pumas gave it a go but simply couldn't crack the defensive wall Miami built around Rios Novo.
- Luis Suárez: Back on the scoresheet, scoring and assisting to lead Miami’s turnaround.
- Rodrigo De Paul: Finally found the net for Miami, showing real control in midfield.
- Jordi Alba: Organizer at the back, always looking for chances to surge forward.
The win was more than just a stat boost. It was Miami's 12th Leagues Cup victory—the most by any club—and it sent them into the knockout rounds for the third year in a row. Pumas, meanwhile, had to pack their bags and process elimination, despite an early advantage and flashes of danger from Ruvalcaba.
Even with Messi sidelined and a few yellow cards making things dicey, Miami’s fresh blood and old hands pulled through. The team’s resilience and ability to find new heroes mean this Leagues Cup run could go even deeper—especially when the world’s most-watched number 10 returns.