Messi’s late winner lifts Inter Miami to Concacaf Champions Cup berth
Lionel Messi assisted the equalizer and scored the winner in Miami’s 2-1 comeback at New England, securing a place in the 2027 tournament.
By the Open Scoring Sports newsroom ·
Messi’s late goal sends Inter Miami to Concacaf Champions Cup
Lionel Messi assisted Germán Berterame’s equalizer and scored in the 83rd minute as Inter Miami CF rallied for a 2-1 win over the New England Revolution. The victory secured Miami a place in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup and moved the club back into second place in the Eastern Conference.
New England took the lead through Daniel Gazdag in the 53rd minute. Messi helped set up Berterame’s headed equalizer before beating Brooklyn Raines and firing a low shot past Matt Turner for the winner. A late New England goal was overturned for offside, Yahoo Sports reported.
Alejandro Bedoya to retire after 2026 season
Philadelphia Union captain Alejandro Bedoya will retire at the end of the 2026 MLS season, closing a 17-year professional career. The 39-year-old joined Philadelphia in 2016 and captained the club for nine seasons, leading it to Supporters’ Shield titles in 2020 and 2025 and its first MLS Cup appearance in 2022, MLSsoccer.com and Field Level Media reported.
Bedoya earned 66 caps for the U.S. men’s national team, appeared in all four of the team’s matches at the 2014 World Cup and won Gold Cup titles in 2013 and 2017, according to USA Today. He will have one final chance to pursue an MLS Cup with the Union, who qualified for the 2026 playoffs.
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