In the 6th minute of stoppage time, Messi assisted Marcelo Weigandt's goal, securing a 2-1 win for Inter Miami. During the emotional celebration, the Argentinian star ran towards Coccaro, shouting and pointing at him.
Messi seemed to have taken exception to Coccaro's earlier exuberant celebration following Rivaldo Lozano's equalizing goal for Atlas. Messi celebrated near the Inter Miami goal, approaching the advertising boards and shouting.
After the match, Coccaro explained, "Right after we tied the game, I started encouraging my teammates. We wanted to turn the game around and score again. So, I celebrated very passionately. When Inter Miami scored the decisive goal, Messi came to celebrate right in front of me, full of emotion. And I just kept quiet. It's Messi, the greatest player in history. What can you say back?".
Despite the on-field tension, Messi sought out Coccaro after the final whistle. The 37-year-old superstar hugged his opponent, apologized, and even gave him his number 10 jersey as a gesture of reconciliation.
Coccaro confirmed there was no animosity between him and Messi. "He really felt sorry... It says a lot about Messi as a person, about the qualities of a great player," the Atlas player said. "When someone like Messi speaks, you can only listen. I have nothing but absolute respect for the greatest player in history."
Atlas coach Gonzalo Pineda saw Messi's reaction as a testament to his unwavering competitive spirit. "Despite achieving all the glory, Messi still fights like it's his first match. That's admirable," he expressed.
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Lionel Messi shakes hands and hugs Matias Coccaro after Inter Miami's 2-1 win over Atlas in their opening Leagues Cup 2025 match on 30/7. Photo: X / dataref_ar |
Lionel Messi shakes hands and hugs Matias Coccaro after Inter Miami's 2-1 win over Atlas in their opening Leagues Cup 2025 match on 30/7. Photo: X / dataref_ar
The match at Chase Stadium on 30/7 marked Messi's return after a one-match suspension for withdrawing from the friendly between the MLS All-Stars and the Liga MX All-Stars.
Despite providing two assists, the Argentinian superstar admitted that the break from playing disrupted his rhythm. "It was really difficult, the weather was hot, and I didn't play the day before. Rest might be good for others, but for me, it's the opposite. I need to play to maintain my feel for the ball," the 37-year-old forward said. "I saw that clearly in the first half. But the important thing is that the team won."
Inter Miami's next two matches are against Necaxa on 2/8 and Unam on 6/8. The 2025 Leagues Cup features a new format with 18 MLS teams and 18 Liga MX teams. In the group stage, each team plays three opponents from the other league. The top eight teams from each league's group stage advance to the quarterfinals, which are played as a knockout tournament.
In 2023, Inter Miami won their first Leagues Cup title, also Messi's first trophy in the US. They failed to defend their title in 2024, losing to Columbus Crew in the round of 16.
Hong Duy (Sportbible, ESPN)
