Lionel Messi exited Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup game against Necaxa in the 11th minute after a stretch of 30 games for Miami with 18 goals and nine assists.

This article was originally published on www.si.com as Inter Miami 2–2 Necaxa: Takeaways as De Paul Steps Up for Missing Messi. Inter Miami picked up two of a possible three points on Saturday night with a shootout win after a 2–2 draw through 90 minutes against Liga MX’s Necaxa in both teams’ second match of the 2025 Leagues Cup.

Lionel Messi left injured in the 11th minute with hamstring discomfort, but Inter Miami earned a 5-4 penalty shootout win against visiting Necaxa following a 2-2 draw in Matchday 2 of Leagues Cup Phase One play on Saturday night.