Nashville ties Inter Miami 1-1, ousts Messi's club from CONCACAF Champions Cup

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Inter Miami's Lionel Messi got a milestone. And Nashville got a tie that felt like a win.

Messi got the 900th goal of his career, but Cristian Espinoza scored in the 74th minute to give Nashville a good-enough-to-advance 1-1 tie with Inter Miami in the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 matchup on Wednesday night.

The teams tied both legs of the matchup, after a 0-0 game in Nashville started the series last week. Away goals were the tiebreaker, meaning Nashville will move onto the tournament's quarterfinals — denying the reigning MLS champions' bid for another trophy.

“Our goal and our club ambition is to compete against the best of North America, Central American and the Caribbean,” Nashville coach B.J. Callaghan said. “That’s what this tournament does, brings the best of the best together. ... If you want to become an elite team and an elite club, you need to be able to perform in a prestigious tournament like this.”

Espinoza scored on a wild play where he was in the right place at the right time.

Nashville's Alex Muyl took a shot that was blocked by a sliding Inter Miami defender Gonzalo Luján. The ball ricocheted off Luján and into the air, the topspin carrying it toward the goal mouth and Inter Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair had to scramble to his feet in order to punch it away.

He didn't punch it far. St. Clair's momentum carried him into the net, where three other Inter Miami defenders also wound up, and Espinoza had an easy goal to pull the match even.

“The match was clearly in jeopardy because it was a game against a great opponent,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said. "Unfortunately, we conceded a goal following an unlucky play. A lot of things happen in a game and, well, we’re out."

It was Inter Miami's first match at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale since last season's MLS Cup final — and, if all stays according to plan, it may be the club's last match in the facility as well. Messi's team doesn't play a home MLS match until April 4, when it is scheduled to open its new stadium near Miami International Airport.

And if this was the Fort Lauderdale finale, it wasn't a loss — but probably felt like one.

Messi, the Argentinian superstar, scored his 900th career goal in the seventh minute for a 1-0 lead. It was quintessential Messi, with him making something out of very little.

He was well-defended when he took the pass with his back to the net, about 12 yards from the goal mouth and with other players creating more traffic in front of the goal.

No problem.

He turned and his left foot sent the ball skittering across the wet grass on a rainy night in South Florida, actually getting it through the legs of Nashville defender Jeisson Palacios and past the left arm of diving goalkeeper Brian Schwake for the opening goal.

But Inter Miami didn't score again, and eventually Nashville broke through.

Nashville had a great chance to tie it in the 67th minute, when Hany Mukhtar — despite Inter Miami arguing that he was offside, and replays suggesting that the Herons had a case — got free in the middle of the field.

Mukhtar came in alone on St. Clair, but wound up missing the net. A few minutes later, that was all forgotten. Messi had one good chance in the four minutes of stoppage time, but the shot was blocked away and soon afterward Nashville was moving on.

“I think we have a group right now in that locker room that has a lot of belief in what we’re doing ... a relentless spirit,” Callaghan said. “Just really proud of the entire group.”

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Inter Miami forwards Germán Berterame (19) and Lionel Messi (10) react as Nashville forward Cristian Espinoza (7) celebrates his goal during the second half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 soccer match, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) walks to kick a corner kick in heavy rain during the first half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 soccer match against Nashville, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) runs with the ball during the first half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 soccer match against Nashville, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) aims to score his 900th goal during a CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 soccer match against Nashville, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) aims to score his 900th goal during a CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 soccer match against Nashville, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi has reached another milestone, getting his 900th career goal in the opening minutes of Inter Miami's CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 match against Nashville on Wednesday night.

The back-to-back Major League Soccer MVP, eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and World Cup champion got it as would be expected — with his left foot, like the majority of his career goals for club and country. He took a pass in the middle of the box in the seventh minute, controlled the ball, spun and lined a low shot through a maze of defenders and into the far corner of the net.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the only other men's player with more than 900 goals — at least, by official counts. It took Ronaldo about 100 more matches to get to the milestone than Messi needed; Ronaldo was 39 when he got to 900 goals in September 2024, while Messi doesn't turn 39 until June.

The historic goal drew the attention of stars names from even outside the soccer world. Basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson posted on social media that Messi reaching 900 goals is an “incredible milestone.”

“What an unbelievable feat!” Johnson wrote.

There are some who have suggested Brazilian legend Pelé topped 1,000 goals for his career, though his “official” total is closer to 800. Different sources, counting different sets of games, list Pelé’s goal totals anywhere from around 650 in league matches to somewhere near 1,300 in all matches — some against low-level competition.

It was a night where Messi surely didn't feel like celebrating. Nashville tied Inter Miami 1-1, advancing to the tournament quarterfinals on an away-goal tiebreaker. The teams played to a 0-0 tie in Nashville last week, the opening leg of the Round of 16 matchup.

Nashville coach B.J. Callaghan paid tribute after the game, saying, “900 goals, congratulations to him. He’s the best.”

Messi remains the game's most popular and most-followed player. His No. 10 Inter Miami jersey has been the bestseller in the league since he arrived in MLS, and everything he does becomes major news in all corners of the soccer world.

This milestone joins countless other awards and accomplishments over Messi’s career, including eight Pichichi trophies as La Liga’s top scorer, six La Liga best player nods, three Best FIFA Men’s Player awards, three UEFA Men’s Player of the Year wins, two FIFA World Cup Golden Balls and no fewer than 15 selections as Argentina’s best player in a given year.

Messi has also been part of winning 47 trophies for club and country — including the 2022 World Cup for Argentina and last season's MLS title with Inter Miami — making him the most decorated player the men’s game has ever seen. He is likely to play again for Argentina this summer when the World Cup is held in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

“The reality,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said late last season, “is that Leo clears all doubts.”

More than half of Messi's goals came with Barcelona, the place he played for nearly two decades. He joined Inter Miami in 2023, was under contract through the end of last season originally and now has a new deal stretching into 2028.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) aims to score his 900th goal during a CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 soccer match against Nashville, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) aims to score his 900th goal during a CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 soccer match against Nashville, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi gestures after scoring his 900th goal during a CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 soccer match against Nashville, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi leaves the field in the rain after a draw against Nashville SC in a CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 soccer match, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)