Luis Suárez led Inter Miami to the Leagues Cup semifinals with a decisive performance, while Lionel Messi supported from the stands. Suárez’s impact highlighted Miami’s attacking strength, keeping their championship hopes alive. Fans now await Messi’s return as Inter Miami prepares for the next challenge in the thrilling tournament run.
Luis Suárez once again proved why he remains one of football’s deadliest strikers, netting a decisive brace to power Inter Miami past Tigres UANL and into the semifinals of the 2025 Leagues Cup in Fort Lauderdale on August 20.
Both of Suárez’s goals came from the penalty spot — and in nearly identical fashion. In the 23rd minute, Tigres defender Javier Aquino was penalized for a handball inside the box, handing Miami an early advantage. The Uruguayan striker stepped up with trademark confidence, blasting the ball to the right. Though the Tigres goalkeeper guessed correctly, the strike was simply too powerful to stop.
Tigres, however, refused to roll over. Early in the second half, Ángel Correa — Lionel Messi’s compatriot from Argentina — equalized, silencing the home crowd and setting up a tense finale. But just as extra time loomed, fortune smiled again on Miami. Another Tigres handball in the 89th minute gifted Suárez a second spot kick. Once more, he went to the right, once more unstoppable — sealing a 2-1 victory and Miami’s passage into the last four.
The triumph came with Inter Miami’s talisman watching helplessly from the sidelines. Messi, who suffered a knock earlier this month in the group stage clash against Necaxa, returned briefly with a goal and an assist in Miami’s 3-1 MLS win over LA Galaxy last weekend. Yet head coach Javier Mascherano revealed that the 38-year-old was still not fully fit, having trained separately as of August 19. Out of caution, Messi sat out the quarterfinal, supporting his teammates from the stands at DRV PNK Stadium.
The injury woes didn’t end there. Veteran defender Jordi Alba limped off early in the second half, compounding Mascherano’s headaches. The coach himself also found trouble — earning a red card that will see him banned from the touchline for the semifinal.
Inter Miami will now await the winner of Orlando City vs. Toluca, with the semifinal set for August 26 or 27. The final is scheduled for August 31.
The 2025 edition of the Leagues Cup features 36 teams — 18 from MLS (USA and Canada) and 18 from Mexico’s Liga MX. In the group phase, clubs only face opponents from the opposite league. After three rounds, the top four from each “super group” advance to the knockout stage. Miami currently sits atop the MLS bracket with five points.
Last year, Inter Miami failed to defend their historic 2023 title — the first trophy Messi lifted on American soil — after a shock exit in the round of 16 to Columbus Crew. But with Suárez in vintage form and Messi’s potential return looming, the Herons appear determined to reclaim their crown.