Lionel Messi of Inter Miami speaks to the official through the second half within the recreation in opposition to Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium on October 21, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina.| Photo Credit: Getty Images

Lionel Messi performed your entire recreation on synthetic turf in Inter Miami’s season finale on Saturday evening, and Charlotte FC certified for the MLS playoffs with a 1-0 victory.

Messi shared the highlight with Charlotte's bid to qualify for the postseason on the final day of the common season in a recreation that drew 66,101 at Charlotte's 74,000-seat Bank of America Stadium.

Messi, who led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title, was the clear drawing card, and hundreds in attendance had been adorned in “Messi 10” jerseys.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner because the world’s high participant went the space within the meaningless recreation for Miami, which had already been eradicated from playoff rivalry. He completed with three photographs and had two scoring probabilities. Messi's obvious purpose within the forty ninth minute was negated by an offside name, and his shot within the 62nd minute bounded off the crossbar.

Messi had 11 objectives in 14 matches with Miami this season. The group was winless in his remaining six league matches (three losses, three attracts) and had 4 wins, 4 losses and 4 attracts within the league since he joined the group in mid-July.

Messi, who scored twice for Argentina in its 2-0 World Cup qualifying win at Peru on Tuesday evening and didn't play the following day in a make-up recreation in opposition to Charlotte, didn't handle the media after the sport. He had one media availability in a half-season with group, on August 17.

Charlotte delivered for its followers. The second-year franchise wanted a victory over Miami and assist from different outcomes to assert one of many two remaining Eastern Conference playoff spots in a scramble of 5 groups. The Chicago Fire and CF Montreal misplaced earlier Saturday and that allowed Charlotte to clinch a playoff berth with a victory.

Kerwin Vargas’ purpose within the thirteenth minute was sufficient to seal the historic victory, and Charlotte held Miami with out a purpose down the stretch in a season wherein it has yielded many late-game objectives.

Charlotte will end the 2023 season second in league attendance; Charlotte FC was averaging 33,634 getting into Saturday’s regular- season finale.

“I knew it was because Messi was in town,” Charlotte FC coach Christian Lattanzio mentioned of the massive crowd. "The extra they arrive to see us they are going to see we are able to play toe-to-toe with one of the best on the planet.

“I'm very, very proud of the boys. They have been working very, very hard.”

Messi is anticipated to play in Inter Miami’s colours on Nov. 5 and Nov. 8, when the group performs two exhibition matches in China. It’ll be the primary time Inter Miami goes on a international tour. Argentina then has extra World Cup qualifiers on Nov. 16 and Nov. 21 — after which Messi ought to get an prolonged break earlier than Inter Miami begins making ready for 2024.

Inter Miami CF coach Gerardo Martino mentioned his group completed the season wearied by its heavy schedule.

“We had three tournaments and won one,” Martino mentioned by way of translator. “The group was exhausted. That's no excuse. That's the fact.