CF Monterrey manager Fernando Ortiz has given his honest verdict on Lionel Messi’s performance after last night’s win against Inter Miami.
The Argentine superstar and the Herons crashed out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup after losing 3-1 in Mexico to Monterrey, with Messi and Inter Miami overwhelmed in what was a difficult match for the MLS franchise.
With Monterrey fans chanting Cristiano Ronaldo’s name at full-time, it was a night to forget for Inter Miami, who needed to rely on the likes of Messi and Luis Suarez to turn up and to deliver the performance required to push the Herons into the semi-finals.
Yet despite the result, Monterrey’s manager Ortiz was more than impressed with what he saw from Messi.
Monterrey manager gives Messi verdict after 3-1 win vs Inter Miami
Speaking to the press via Pase Filtrado, Ortiz was full of praise for Messi, with the Monterrey manager again reaffirming his previous claim that the Argentine is the best player in the world and the best to ever play the sport.
Whilst Messi didn’t have the best of games for Inter Miami, there were still some moments that showcased why the Argentine remains one of the best attackers on the planet and why Inter Miami could have done something against Monterrey.
Yet the narrative was not meant to be, with Ortiz said when asked to deliver his verdict on Messi’s performance: “I said it before and I will say it again, for me, he is the best player in the entire history of this sport.
“Though saying that, I am happy to have eliminated a great team as well as to have beaten Gerardo [Tata Martino] and Messi, he is a world-class player with a fantastic manager. But as coaches, we cannot enjoy these moments for long, I am already planning for the next game.”
Messi will be fuming with his performance last night
Messi is yet to truly hit a wall whilst on the pitch with Inter Miami, yet last night proved just that as the Herons were outclassed by Monterrey in Mexico.
The Champions Cup has historically been a competition that MLS sides have faltered in in part to how superior Ligs MX teams are, with last night proving that even Inter Miami have their limits with Messi and company.
And the Argentien himself will be fuming with how he performer last night, with Messi not able to save Inter Miami from elimination as the Florida franchise leave the Champions Cup earlier than what many people would have expected.