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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><ul><li>Herons fell behind early on against LAFC</li><li>Talismanic captain sparked remarkable comeback</li><li>Will face Vancouver in last-four showdown</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

VIDEO: Top corner stunner & nerveless penalty! Lionel Messi bags brace for Inter Miami & fires MLS outfit into CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-finals

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Inter Miami CF

<p>The Argentine superstar, who has seen his game time carefully managed in 2025, was <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/why-lionel-messi-elite-players-not-rotated-inter-miami-argentine-superstar-90-minutes-back-to-back-fixtures/blta35781a3492b2cd2" target="_blank">included in the Herons’ starting XI for the third successive fixture</a> as they lined up against MLS rivals LAFC in CONCACAF competition.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">HAD TO BE HIM 🐐💥<a href="https://t.co/oJwaAgcUnG">pic.twitter.com/oJwaAgcUnG</a></p>— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) <a href="https://twitter.com/InterMiamiCF/status/1910131490173682031?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
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WATCH THE CLIP

<p>Javier Mascherano needed inspiration from somewhere, as his side trailed the quarter-final encounter 1-0 on aggregate, and that meant leaning heavily on eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>The all-time great did not disappoint, as he <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/inter-miami-player-ratings-vs-lafc-lionel-messi-sparks-herons-concacaf-champions-cup-semis/bltfa8cddde253c0522" target="_blank">registered two goals in an impressive 3-1 win</a>. Inter Miami fell behind inside the opening 10 minutes, leaving them with a mountain to climb, but saw Messi grab a lifeline before half-time.</p><center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Our captain from the spot 🐐💥<a href="https://t.co/Y2TCW43Wne">pic.twitter.com/Y2TCW43Wne</a></p>— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) <a href="https://twitter.com/InterMiamiCF/status/1910148699604333021?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
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DID YOU KNOW?

<p>His stunning strike in the 35th minute crashed into the top corner after working a yard of space just inside the box. Federico Redondo restored overall parity just past the hour mark, before Messi stepped up and tucked away a penalty six minutes from time.</p>

TELL ME MORE

<p>Inter Miami - who are looking to chase down major honours on multiple fronts this season, allowing <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/video-lionel-messi-lifts-trophy-46-inter-miami-superstar-most-decorated-player-all-time-inter-miami-supporters-shield-mls-2024/blta5661435124b5e01" target="_blank">Messi to enhance his standing as the most decorated player in history</a> - will face the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Champions Cup semi-finals.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR LIONEL MESSI & INTER MIAMI?

VIDEO: Top corner stunner & nerveless penalty! Lionel Messi bags brace for Inter Miami & fires MLS outfit into CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-finals | Goal.com

Lionel Messi fired Inter Miami into the Champions League semi-finals, finding the top corner with one effort and converting a nerveless penalty.

VIDEO: Top corner stunner &amp; nerveless penalty! Lionel Messi bags brace for Inter Miami &amp; fires MLS outfit into CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-finals

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