Inter Miami and Lionel Messi endured a night to forget in Mexico as the MLS franchise were beaten 3-1 by CF Monterrey.
The result dumped the Herons out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, a result not one figure at Inter Miami wanted with the Florida giants setting a goal this season to win the biggest prize in North American soccer.
With Monterrey midfielder Luis Romo claiming that the home side didn’t give Inter Miami the respect the Herons expected, Tata Martino’s side were seemingly doomed from the start to lose last night’s game in convincing fashion.
And Monterrey fans added more salt to the wound for Messi after what was heard when the full-time whistle finally came.
Monterrey fans aim Cristiano Ronaldo chant at Messi after 3-1 win
In video captured by FOX Sports MX, Monterrey fans were heard chanting Cristiano Ronaldo’s name towards Messi after the home side officially eliminated Inter Miami from the Champions Cup.
With Nashville SC supporters doing something in the last round of the competition, it is perhaps no surprise to see Monterrey voice a similar chant towards Messi, with the Mexican side actually coming away as victors of this tie.
Indeed, with Ronaldo himself suffering the reverse in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr, the dynamic of arguably the most famous player rivalry in all of soccer has taken a unique yet oddly hilarious shape with both stars now in the final years of their career.
Yet for Messi, the Argentine forward will likely feel little annoyance towards these chants from Monterrey fans, with Inter Miami’s loss, of course, the main factor at play in what happened last night.
Inter Miami need to bounce back from Champions Cup exit
The Champions Cup was always going to be a lofty dream for Inter Miami, even with a squad as incredible as the Florida side’s with the likes of Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets.
Yet the Herons now need to bounce back with MLS and qualifying for the playoffs the new main focus, a goal that should be quite achievable given how well Inter Miami have started the new season.
With Messi now able to rest more and the entire squad no longer traveling even larger distances for away games, the MLS playoff push can really begin here, with Inter Miami in a good spot already to qualify for the post-season.