The wait for Lionel Messi’s 900th goal continues.
Messi and Inter Miami played to a scoreless draw on the road against Nashville SC in the first leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 matchup at Geodis Park on Wednesday, March 11.
Messi – the Argentine World Cup champion – entered the match sitting on 899 goals for club and country in his career, hoping to join rival Cristiano Ronaldo (965) beyond the lofty threshold.
Messi scored 15 goals in 10 matches against Nashville, more than any other club he’s faced in MLS since joining in July 2023. He was defended well by multiple pesky defenders throughout the night, unable to deliver a highlight moment on a rainy, chilly night in Nashville.
Perhaps his best opportunity, Messi was unable to score after firing a shot with his right foot in the 57th minute after a clear run toward the right side of the net. His shot was saved by Nashville goalkeeper Brian Schwake to prevent a historic goal. It was also Inter Miami’s only shot on goal in the match.
“We know them, and they know us,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said of Nashville. “When the game finishes nil-nil, it’s because both teams were thinking about how to disturb the opponent’s attack.”
Added Nashville coach B.J. Callahan: “We walk away pleased with the performance and the result, still knowing we have a few things to work on. But not completely satisfied, knowing we have a big second leg coming up.”
Inter Miami resumes to MLS play at Charlotte FC, while Nashville visits the Columbus Crew on Saturday, March 14 – before they meet again in the second leg on March 18 at Inter Miami Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
Dayne St. Clair, the reigning MLS goalkeeper of the year who joined Inter Miami this offseason, did his part to keep the aggregate score in the series to a minimum saving several shots by MVP runner-up Sam Surridge and former MVP Hany Mukhtar.
St. Clair also made stellar saved on a header attempt by Nashville’s Reed Baker-Whiting in the 65th minute, as Inter Miami’s defense needed to adjust following the opening minutes.
Starting defender Maxi Falcon was replaced by Gonzalo Lugan after sustaining a left knee injury following a collision on a shot clearance by St. Clair in the 5th minute.
“It was obviously important for the tie, for the team and also for him,” Mascherano said of St. Clair’s impact. “I think he had a great performance.”
Messi was pushed down by Baker-Whiting in the final minutes of stoppage time to set up a free kick, but time expired after his kick sailed out of bounds.
Inter Miami may have slightly dominated possession, but Nashville pushed the tempo with 15 shots and five shots on goal against the defending MLS champions.
“We have great respect for them,” Callahan said of Inter Miami. “When we have to prepare for them, doing that work and competing makes us better. We’re going to take some things about this game, and go at it again.”
The second leg match will be Inter Miami’s first home match of the season, played at Inter Miami Stadium in Fort Lauderdale as the club awaits the opening of Nu Stadium at Miami Freedom Park on April 4.
“We’ll see next week,” Mascherano said. “We’re stronger when we play at home. We haven’t [since the season started]. I’ll tell the fans, we need the fans also to get through to the quarterfinal.”
Check out these highlights from the Nashville vs. Inter Miami match:
Nashville vs. Inter Miami highlights
Nashville 0, Inter Miami 0: Alex Muyl fires shot over net (82’)
Alex Muyl fired a shot over the net in the 82nd minute, another chance squandered by Nashville.
Nashville 0, Inter Miami 0: Mukhtar misses right boot (70’)
Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar misfired on a shot in the 70th minute just outside the right post.
Nashville 0, Inter Miami 0: Dayne St. Clair saves header (65’)
After a corner kick, Nashville’s Reed Baker-Whiting nearly scored in the 65th minute, but his header was saved by Inter Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair.
Nashville 0, Inter Miami 0: Warren Madrigal misses shot
Nashville unable to convert on a sequence that saw Warren Madrigal miss a shot to the outside of the right post in the 61st minute.
Nashville 0, Inter Miami 0: Messi misses right boot (57’)
Messi’s best chance of the night with a clear run toward the right side of the net, he was unable to score after firing a shot with his right foot in the 57th minute, saved by Nashville goalkeeper Brian Schwake. He was well defended on another sequence that followed a minute later.
Nashville 0, Inter Miami 0: Germán Berterame picks up yellow card (51’)
Inter Miami striker Germán Berterame is issued a yellow card after a contest on Nashville’s Matthew Corcoran in the 51st minute.
Nashville 0, Inter Miami 0: Messi’s charge deflected (47’)
Messi’s dribble was deflected away by Nashville defender Maxwell Woledzi in the 47th minute.
Nashville 0, Inter Miami 0: Halftime update
Despite the score, Nashville has been in control of this one with Sam Surridge leading the charge. He fired multiple shots toward the net, and Inter Miami’s goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair has been steady. Inter Miami has just two shots in the match, including a deflected shot by Messi in the 35th minute.
Nashville 0, Inter Miami 0: Surridge shot saved by St. Clair (42’)
Nashville’s Sam Surridge blasted a right boot, but it was another save by Inter Miami’s Dayne St. Clair in the 42nd minute.
Nashville 0, Inter Miami 0: St. Clair saves shot by Madrigal (38′)
Nashville’s Warren Madrigal fired a left boot after a through ball from Sam Surridge, but it was saved by Inter Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair.
Nashville 0, Inter Miami: Messi’s shot deflected (35’)
Messi’s first shot of the match is deflected by Nashville defender Patrick Yazbek just outside the box. He possessed the ball several times, but has been harassed by multiple Nashville defenders in the first half.
Nashville 0, Inter Miami 0: Nashville’s goalkeeper favors hamstring
Nashville goalkeeper Brian Schwake was seen pointing toward his left hamstring while signaling toward the bench in the 23rd minute, but stays on.
Nashville 0, Inter Miami 0: Hany Mukhtar, Andy Nájar miss at the net
Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar and Andy Nájar got two shots off near the net, testing Dayne St. Clair, but to no avail in the 19th minute.
Nashville 0, Inter Miami 0: Surridge misses early shot (11′)
Sam Surridge, Nashville’s MLS MVP runner-up from a season ago, missed a right boot in the 11th minute just outside the left post.
Nashville 0, Inter Miami 0: Early injury, substitute for Miami (7′)
A defensive change in the first five minutes of the match for Inter Miami: Gonzalo Lujan comes on for Maxi Falcon, who sustained a left knee injury following a collision after goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair cleared a shot by Nashville.
What time is Nashville SC vs. Inter Miami match in Champions Cup?
The match begins at 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. CT in Nashville, 9:30 p.m. in Argentina).
How to watch Nashville SC vs. Inter Miami play in Champions Cup?
The match is available on FS2 in English, and TUDN in Spanish in the U.S. It will also be available via CONCACAF Go or the Concacaf YouTube channel.
Is Messi playing tonight? Inter Miami, Nashville starting lineups
Yes, Messi is in the Inter Miami starting lineup and will play. Here’s the starting 11 for both sides:
Lionel Messi stats vs. Nashville
Messi has scored 15 goals with four assists in 10 matches vs. Nashville across all competitions. He has scored in all but one of those matches, including a hat trick in a 5-2 win in Nashville on Oct. 18, 2025.
What Inter Miami and Nashville are saying before the match
Nashville coach B.J. Callaghan: “When you look back at the history of Nashville and Miami, I think it’s really important that we reflect, analyze how those games go. You can learn lessons from history. But what I would also say is, history doesn’t necessarily dictate what’s going to happen in the future.”
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano on Nashville: “It’s a tough, difficult game, as always when we play in Nashville. We know their fans will be putting on the pressure, and above all, we have to keep in mind that they’re a team with blood in their eyes. When you face a rival that we’ve fortunately eliminated and that helped us win the championship last year, and in previous seasons the club has even won finals against them, it’s clear that they’re going to want their revenge … and we have to be very prepared for that.”
Messi’s upcoming schedule with Inter Miami, Argentina
March 14: Charlotte FC vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET (MLS regular season)
March 18: Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC, 7 p.m. ET (Concacaf Champions Cup, second leg)
March 22: New York City FC vs. Inter Miami, 1 p.m. ET (MLS regular season)
March 27: Spain vs. Argentina, 2 p.m. ET (Finalissima)
March 31: Qatar vs. Argentina, TBD (International friendly)
April 4: Inter Miami vs. Austin FC, 7:30 p.m. ET (MLS regular season)