Inter Miami CF managed to secure a dominant 4-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo on Sunday night, March 2, 2025, even without their star player Lionel Messi. The match, held at Shell Energy Stadium, saw young players step up to fill the void left by the iconic forward's absence due to rest.
Telasco Segovia, just 21 years old, opened the scoring for the visitors early on, followed by his teammate Tadeo Allende, who added another stunning goal just before halftime. Allende exhibited remarkable skill, starting his run deep within his half before beautifully connecting with a one-touch pass from the experienced Luis Sue1rez. With impeccable timing, he rifled the ball home with his left foot.
Miami’s head coach, Javier Mascherano, opted to rest Messi, citing the team's congested schedule as the primary reason. "Leo is fine... He will train normally like the rest of his teammates," Mascherano remarked prior to the match, affirming Messi's readiness for upcoming engagements.
Despite the excitement surrounding the match—widely anticipated as Messi’s first appearance in Houston since joining MLS—many fans were left disappointed. Tickets were selling for upwards of $200 before the announcement of Messi’s absence, as his presence tends to attract not only die-hard soccer fans but also casual spectators. Following the news, the Dynamo announced via their official X account: "Fans who attend tomorrow night’s match can claim a complimentary ticket to a future Dynamo match this season." This decision came as they sought to mitigate the discontent of ticket holders who wanted to see the legendary player on the pitch.
Some fans, like Kelly from the Houston area, voiced their disappointment after discovering Messi wouldn't be playing only when the starting lineup was released. She shared, "He was literally crying in our seats just now realizing Messi is not here. We spent a lot of money just to make this dream come true for him, and this is just so disappointing." The family had jumped at the chance to witness Messi live and even purchased his jersey to celebrate the occasion.
Others had tried to prepare for the disappointment, like Brandon Browning and his son Tyler, who were donning Messi jerseys at the game. "Sometimes if you go to watch an Astros game back whenever we were kids and Jeff Bagwell didn’t play, it was a disappointment. They have to rest, I get it," stated Browning when explaining his and his son's decision to still attend the game. Although disappointed they wouldn’t see Messi, they remarked on the opportunity to witness other stars like Sue1rez and Sergio Busquets, all of whom formerly played alongside Messi at Barcelona.
On the field, Miami capitalized on their prowess without their captain. Segovia and Allende's early contributions set the tone for the match, with Sue1rez continuing his impressive form, providing three assists and scoring himself later in the game. Miami led 3-0 at halftime and effectively controlled the match, culminating with Nicolás Loderio scoring for Houston to provide some consolation.
Despite the sold-out crowd of over 20,000 at Shell Energy Stadium being eager to witness Messi, their disappointment was somewhat alleviated by the impressive performances of Miami's squad. The team is now focused on their upcoming matches, including one against Jamaica's Cavalier SC in the Concacaf Champions Cup, followed by another MLS fixture against Charlotte FC on March 9.
Inter Miami’s victory, even without their marquee player, highlights the depth and talent present within the squad. It seems with each match, they’re building momentum as they strive for success this season—proving they are more than Messi’s team.