Key Takeaways:
- Last night in Fort Lauderdale, Lionel Messi netted his 900th career goal in a 1-1 draw between Inter Miami and Nashville SC
- Nashville SC advanced to the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals on the away-goals rule after a 1-1 aggregate
- Club America secured their place in the quarterfinals with a 2-1 aggregate victory over Philadelphia Union
CONCACAF Champions Cup: Quarterfinal Places Decided
Cristian Espinoza delivered the crucial second-half goal that propelled Nashville SC to the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals, ousting Inter Miami in a dramatic contest on a historic evening for Lionel Messi.
The second leg, played on Wednesday night in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, finished 1-1, mirroring the aggregate scoreline over two legs. As a result, Nashville progressed courtesy of the away-goals tiebreaker and will face either the Philadelphia Union or Mexico’s Club America in the next round.
LIONEL MESSI HAS DONE IT!!
900 CAREER GOALS FOR THE BOY FROM ROSARIO 🐐 pic.twitter.com/dH642lOv13
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 18, 2026
Messi’s Historic Milestone Overshadowed by Elimination
Inter Miami took the lead in the seventh minute when Sergio Reguilon set up Messi, who found the net from ten yards. His effort slid between the legs of a Nashville defender before crossing the line, recording Messi’s 900th career goal for club and country. Despite this major achievement, Miami, the reigning MLS Cup champions, were unable to add to their tally and ultimately exited the tournament.
Messi remains second in football history for career goals, trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 965 for Portugal and Al-Nassr. Messi is the second male footballer in history to surpass the 900-goal mark.
| Fixture | Aggregate Score | Advancing Team | Goal scorers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inter Miami v Nashville SC | 1-1 | Nashville SC (on away goals) | Messi; Espinoza |
| Club America v Philadelphia Union | 2-1 | Club America | Dourado; Bueno |
Key Moments from Miami-Nashville Clash
The decisive moment for Nashville came amidst a frantic sequence in front of the Inter Miami goal. Alex Muyl’s initial effort was blocked, rebounding into the air and heading towards the goal line. Miami goalkeeper Dayne St Clair cleared the ball under heavy pressure, but the loose ball was collected by Espinoza, who finished clinically with his right foot inside the far post.
Club America Edge Past Philadelphia Union
In the other tie, Club America withstood Philadelphia Union’s determined push in Mexico City, advancing 2-1 on aggregate. Rodrigo Dourado registered his first goal for Club America in the sixth minute, heading home from a free kick by Raphael Veiga after joining in January. Although Jesus Bueno converted a penalty in the 49th minute following a foul by Alex Zendejas on Frankie Westfield, the Union failed to muster a single shot on target during the remainder of the encounter, squandering three efforts and seeing another blocked.
Philadelphia goalkeeper Andrew Rick made two crucial saves in the first half to keep his side in contention, but the Union’s comeback ultimately fell short.
