Nashville SC midfielder Dax McCarty has ruled Saturday’s Leagues Cup Final defeat not “a total loss” after he left the stadium with Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami jersey.
Messi and Co had to beat Nashville on penalties to win Inter Miami’s first-ever trophy. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and World Cup-winning Argentine opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, finding the top left corner to leave Geodis Park stunned.
It was Messi’s 10th goal in just seven games for his new team, with the football legend back enjoying his football again after two seasons of torture at Paris Saint-Germain. Fafà Picault equalised by Nashville but it was a 10-9 penalty shootout win that determined Inter Miami winners of the Leagues Cup.
And after every game Messi plays in, a fight for his jersey after the final whistle begins. It was Nashville’s veteran midfielder McCarty, 36, who went home with the Messi No. 10 Inter Miami shirt.
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“The night wasn’t a total loss,” McCarty said on Twitter, accompanied by a picture of himself smiling with the jersey at home. McCarty did also touch on the result but says Nashville were fighting a losing battle against who he says is the greatest of all time, Messi.
He said: “The result is obviously a swift kick to the groin, but I couldn’t be prouder of our team and our city. Our response after the GOAT does GOAT things was awesome. So much character in this group. It hurts but we will be better for it. Plenty of good nights and memories to come.”
Manchester United, Real Madrid, AC Milan, and LA Galaxy legend David Beckham was the mastermind behind Inter Miami’s acquisition of Messi, who had ridiculous riches on offer in Saudi Arabia. The Inter Miami co-owner also helped sign fellow Barcelona legends Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
Beckham said after the match: “So we started this journey and it’s been a long one. I always knew that there was going to be bumps in the road along the way, and there were too many, to be honest. But tonight is a night that we are going to enjoy.
“People keep saying that every time Leo scores one of these goals, every time [Sergio Busquets] makes one of these passes, every time Jordi [Alba] makes one of these runs, people say, ‘Is it a fix?’ And it’s the biggest compliment anyone can give these players because it is like a movie.
“You watch these players play, and it’s emotional watching them because everything about their play is beautiful. Everything about their mannerism is beautiful. Everything about them as individuals off the pitch is beautiful. So when they play, it’s emotional.”
