WHAT TEAMS IN LIGA MX HAS MESSI PLAYED AGAINST?
Lionel Messi is set to start his adventure in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami CF, and it just so happens that his first match will most likely be against Mexican side, Cruz Azul. So, because of that we are going to look back at all LIGA MX and MLS sides that the Argentine star has faced.
MESSI VS LIGA MX
Messi has come up against four Mexican clubs, so far, in his career, although only one of those matches was an official game.
The first time he faced a LIGA MX side was on August 9, 2006 in Houston, against Club America when they played FC Barcelona in a preseason friendly. The game ended in a 4-4 draw, "La Pulga" entered in the 62nd minute and was not able to score.
His second match versus a Mexican side occurred three years later, in 2009, against Chivas de Guadalajara, in a friendly that was played in the United States. The match ended in another draw, this time it was 1-1, but once again Messi was unable to score despite playing from the start of the match.
Leo’s third game against a LIGA MX team was the only game that the Argentine played officially. It was against Atlante, in December 2009 and it was in the semifinals of the FIFA Club World Cup. The game was won by his club, Barça, beating them 3-1 and on this occasion Messi did get to score.
The fourth duel that Messi had against a LIGA MX team was in 2014, when Barcelona invited then-champion Club León to play the Joan Gamper Trophy, taking advantage of the fact that Rafa Marquez was then playing for La Fiera. The game ended 6-0 in favor of the Catalan side and Messi scored a goal.
Messi’s fifth appearance against a LIGA MX side came in his debut for Inter Miami on July 21 for the opener of the Leagues Cup 2023. On a special and historic night for American soccer, the Argentine stepped up to score an injury-time free-kick in the 94th minute to score the winning goal.
MESSI VS MLS
So now that Messi is set to join an MLS side, the question is, how has he performed against MLS teams? Well, the curious fact is that the Argentina number 10 has never faced off against an MLS side, officially.
However, he has played in four preseason friendlies against MLS sides. In the first in 2006 against New York Red Bulls, he scored in the 61st minute. In 2009, he scored a brace against Seattle Sounders FC. Now, with him joining Inter Miami CF, we’re sure there will be more goals to come, so stay tuned.
