Wednesday's clash with Nashville is the most important since Messi landed in Miami

We may only be a few weeks into the new Major League Soccer campaign, but the CONCACAF Champions Cup ensures there are season-defining matches for all involved. Reigning MLS champions Inter Miami have made a mixed start to 2026.

Javier Mascherano's team were smashed 3-0 by LAFC at the Coliseum on opening night, bouncing back with successive road wins in Orlando and DC, before Saturday's goalless draw against Charlotte. However, the MLS regular season is not the Herons' priority right now. That's because, their CONCACAF Champions Cup campaign commenced in Tennessee last Wednesday, held to a goalless draw by Nashville at Geodis Park.

Nashville 0-0 Inter Miami statistics

In fairness, Miami were lucky to earn a draw in Tennessee. Goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair produced four saves, leaving B. J. Callaghan's team frustrated that they could not find the breakthrough, as the visitors rarely threatened up the other end.

So, back in Fort Lauderdale, will it be different? This will be Miami's first home fixture since hoisting MLS Cup aloft, with their first five regular season games all on the road, ahead of the grand-opening of Nu Stadium against Austin on Easter weekend. Thus, this second leg is likely to be farewell to Chase Stadium, Miami's "temporary" home since they began play in 2020.

This though is a season-defining tie, even at this early stage. Since Lionel Messi arrived in Florida two and a half years ago, he has already picked up three major honours, as well as scoring 80 goals in 92 appearances.

Inter Miam's achievements since Lionel Messi's arrival

• MLS Cup winners: 2025.

• Supporters' Shield winners: 2024.

• Leagues Cup winners: 2023.

• MLS single-season points record (74): 2024

• U.S. Open Cup finalists: 2023.

• Leagues Cup finalists: 2025.

Just a month after signing, Messi scored ten goals in seven Leagues Cup appearances as Miami won the tournament, their first-ever trophy, memorably defeating Nashville on penalties in the final. Since then, the Herons have set the single-season points record, picking up the Supporters' Shield, before getting their hands on MLS Cup for the first time back in December.

So, what is there left for Messi to achieve? Well, continental success. Owner Jorge Mas has stated that winning the CONCACAF Champions Cup is a priority, because it would rubber stamp Miami's spot at the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup, having rather snuck in via the back door to feature at the inaugural edition. Not just that, Miami want to be the best team in the region, but that will not be easy.

Since LA Galaxy in 2000, only one MLS club has won the competition, kudos to Seattle Sounders in 2022, the sole team able to break up the Liga MX monopolisation for over a quarter of a century. Last year, Mascherano's side did reach the semi-finals, but were smashed 5-1 on aggregate by Vancouver Whitecaps, denied the chance to take on a Mexican opponent in the shape of Cruz Azul.

This time, should they get past a very impressive Nashville, it would be Club América or Philadelphia Union who await in the quarter-finals, with Tigres UANL, FC Cincinnati and the aforementioned Vancouver and Seattle making up a challenging side of the bracket.

First though, they must oust the Boys in Gold. Well, last year, Miami and Nashville met four times in a row, with the Herons winning three of them, prevailing 5-2 in Tennessee, before back-to-back home wins 3-1 and then 4-0 during the first round of the play-offs. For the Sunshine State to witness a similar scoreline on Wednesday, Messi will need to be at his dazzling best.