Charlotte FC secured a pivotal 1-0 win over Inter Miami on MLS Decision Day despite the return of superstar Lionel Messi to his club’s starting lineup. Here’s what you need to know:
Messi’s MLS regular-season finale
Messi’s final appearance of the 2023 MLS season gave us a couple almost moments.
The Argentine chipped Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina in the 49th minute for what would have been a vintage Messi goal, but he was flagged for offside. Then he whipped in a free kick from a ridiculous angle in the 62nd minute. The shot deflected off the head of a Charlotte defender, then was parried off the bottom of the crossbar by Kahlina before bouncing out. Messi played the full 90 in the 1-0 loss, and now he’ll focus on staying fit for Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil in November.
Up next: a pair of friendlies with Inter Miami in China against Qingdao Hainiu and Chengdu Rongcheng on Nov. 5 and Nov. 8, respectively. — Paul Tenorio, national soccer writer
Required reading
(Photo: Jim Dedmon / USA Today)