Leagues Cup roundup: Lionel Messi injured as Inter Miami top Necaxa
Aug 2, 2025; Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA; Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) goes down after dribbling the ball against Necaxa defender Alexis Pena (4) and Necaxa midfielder Raul Sanchez (11) during the first half of a Leagues Cup group stage match at Chase Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Lionel Messi left injured in the 11th minute but Inter Miami earned a 5-4 penalty shootout win against visiting Necaxa following a 2-2 draw in Matchday 2 of Leagues Cup Phase One play on Saturday night.
Miami (1-0-1, 5 points) converted all of their penalties, with Luis Suarez clinching the extra point with a finish off the underside of the crossbar after a wild game that saw both teams finish with 10 men.
Herons goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo made one save, thwarting Tomas Badaloni's attempt from the spot.
Earlier, Badaloni scored his third of the tournament in the 33rd minute for Necaxa (1-0-1, 4 points), who played 11-on-10 for 43 minutes after Inter Miami's Maximiliano Falcon was ejected for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity with a 17th-minute foul.
Cristian Calderon's second yellow card in the 60th minute evened numbers before Necaxa's Ricardo Montreal and Miami's Jordi Alba traded goals after the 80th minute.
Miami's Telasco Segovia opened the scoring a minute after Messi's departure.
The 38-year-old Messi limped off the field under his own power. No cause of injury was immediately given for the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, but it appeared a potential hamstring strain.
Orlando City 3, Atlas 1
Martin Ojeda scored the decisive goal in the 57th minute to boost Orlando City's hopes of reaching the knockout phase and eliminate visiting Atlas from contention.
Ivan Angulo opened the scoring, and Marco Pasalic added very late insurance 12 minutes into second-half stoppage time seal the win for Orlando (1-0-1, 4 points). The Lions opened their tournament with a 1-1 draw against Pumas UNAM and lost the ensuing penalty shootout.
Matias Coccaro briefly leveled the contest in the 50th minute for Atlas (0-2-0, 0 points), which lost its opening match 2-1 to Inter Miami on a stoppage-time goal assisted by Messi.
Coccaro was later sent off in second-half stoppage time before Pasalic's tally for his role in a late skirmish that involved several players from both teams.
--Field Level Media
Zac Taylor Somehow Survived Insane AFC North Shake Up
How John Harbaugh Froze the 2026 NFL Coaching Carousel
- Texans vs Steelers Wild Card Pick: Top Monday Night Football Playoff Predictions
- NBA Picks and Predictions for January 11th: Best Bets for Sunday
- NFL Playoff Sunday January 11th Picks: Top Wild Card Bets
- College Basketball Picks Today: Saturday January 10th Best Bets
- Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears NFL Playoffs Wild Card Betting Picks
- Washington Capitals vs. Chicago Blackhawks Betting Pick January 9th
- NFL Wild Card Weekend Player Props: Best Bets for the 2026 Playoffs

