Lionel Messi scored the winning goal as Inter Miami defeated the New England Revolution 2-1 in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Sunday, officially booking their spot in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.
According to ESPN, the victory also lifted Inter Miami above the Revolution into second place in the Eastern Conference with one match remaining in the Major League Soccer regular season.
New England had the better of the opening half, recording six shots and five corner kicks, but neither side could find the breakthrough before the interval.
The hosts eventually took the lead in the early minutes of the second half through Dániel Gazdag, who connected with Ilay Feingold inside the box before finding the net.
Inter Miami responded in the 69th minute when Germán Berterame headed home from a clever backward header by Messi to bring the visitors level.
Miami manager Cristian González subsequently introduced Luis Suárez, who had started the club’s previous 25 matches, as he sought to strengthen his team’s attacking options.
Explaining the decision, González said: “We knew we were going up against a rival that tries to seek out duels where they defend high, so the possibility of changes was to have depth, look for the spaces, and the one-on-one matchups. We struggled with ball possession, which at times was very passive.”
He added: “My message to the players is I need everyone. In this case, we believed we needed to make some changes.
“This doesn’t mean this is the team that’s going to start the playoffs. Everyone shows me they’re eager to want to play.”
Messi then put Miami ahead with a trademark finish, dribbling past defenders outside the penalty area before sending a low, left-footed shot beyond New England goalkeeper Matt Turner.
The Revolution appeared to have rescued a point when Ian Fray scored an own goal, but the effort was ruled out for offside, allowing Miami to hold on for the victory.
Messi’s goal proved decisive in securing the club’s place in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup. A defeat or draw would have left Miami needing a result on Decision Day on November 7 to secure qualification.
Reacting to the victory, González praised Messi’s influence and described him as the best player.
“I have no doubt that he’s the best of all,” González said of Messi.
“None of them can compare to him when it comes to respect for his colleagues. Leo at his age and what he does, from my point of view, deserves the MVP and also the Ballon d’Or. I hope he can achieve it.”
Inter Miami have now joined Nashville SC, New England Revolution and Vancouver Whitecaps among the teams qualified for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup. The winner of the 2026 MLS Cup will also earn a place in the competition.
The Herons have accumulated 59 points from 33 matches and will conclude their regular-season campaign at home against Charlotte FC, with the result set to influence their seeding ahead of the MLS playoffs.
What You Should Know
Inter Miami has secured a major milestone by qualifying for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup following a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution, propelled by a decisive goal from Lionel Messi.
- Positive Impact: The win boosts Inter Miami’s standing in the Eastern Conference, lifting them to second place with just one regular-season match remaining and guaranteeing continental competition.
- Potential Concerns: The team experienced struggles with ball possession and defensive challenges during the match, highlighting areas for improvement ahead of the upcoming MLS playoffs.
