Coach Cincinnati: 'We can't do more against Messi'

"This defeat really hurts," Noonan said after the match on August 24. "My players deserved a better result. We played well for most of the game, but after that, Messi had the magic moments to create two goals to come back. We didn't. What can be done more than what has already been done?"

In the semi-finals of the American National Cup, FC Cincinnati led 2-0 after 53 minutes. However, Messi created both goals for Leonardo Campana to shorten the score to 1-2 in the 68th minute and 2-2 in the 90+7 minute. After each team added one more goal in extra time, Inter Miami won 5-4 on penalties.

Before the match, coach Noonan was also wary of Messi. He said it would be "silly" to think of a player who won seven Ballon d'Or. In the first half of the semi-final, FC Cincinnati did a good job of separating Messi from his teammates. However, even when he has to go deep, the 36-year-old Argentine superstar can still be dangerous with free kicks or hanging the ball from a distance.

After FC Cincinnati led 1-0, Messi encouraged his teammates during halftime. "He told us to have faith," Campana said. "He said we were going to win, that after everything we did on the pitch we would never lose. He was a leader. He spoke in every game, in every training session. and every championship game."

In addition to direct contributions on the field, Messi also guides young players. Thanks to that, many Inter Miami players are improving their level and confidence. "We just have to try to absorb what he says, because he is clearly the best player in the world," midfielder Cremaschi said. "We're living the dream and we're enjoying it."

After joining in mid-July, Messi helped Inter Miami win all eight games, scoring 10 goals and assisting three times. Thereby, the team of former midfielder David Beckham won the Leagues Cup and had the first title in history. After winning FC Cincinnati in the semi-finals of the US National Cup, Inter Miami will take on Houston Dynamo in the final on September 28. If he wins again, Messi will have a second title after just two months of playing for the new team.

Inter Miami also has hope in the MLS Cup. They are at the bottom of the Eastern group, 14 points behind the play-off group, but have 12 matches left.