‘Lionel Messi wasn’t doing much & then puts it in the top corner!’ - Nashville star Sam Surridge reflects on ‘surreal experience’ of facing Inter Miami superstar in Leagues Cup final

Former Nottingham Forest striker Surridge has taken on his own MLS challenge in 2023 at Nashville. He lined up against Messi in the final of the inaugural Leagues Cup – with the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner netting a stunning goal in that contest before going on to convert his penalty in a successful shootout for Inter Miami.

Surridge may have found himself on the losing side that day, but he has told Live Score of gracing the same pitch as all-time great Messi: "It was quite a surreal experience, especially as it was a final. It was something I didn't think would happen, playing against Messi in a final, so yeah, it was a bit crazy. We felt we should have won with our second-half performance and obviously Messi was the one who scored the equaliser. He wasn't really doing much. At one point, he was just standing on the side of the pitch. And then suddenly within a minute, he gets the ball and puts it in the top corner. That's something he does in games that I can perhaps try and learn from. But it was all quite incredible, to be honest. After Messi's arrival, you can see how much Major League Soccer is growing and the World Cup in 2026 is also going to play a huge part.”

Success in the Leagues Cup, which came a matter of weeks after his arrival in the United States, saw Messi make more history as he landed the 44th major honour of his remarkable career. In total, the 36-year-old South American has scored 11 goals through 12 appearances for Inter Miami.

Messi also inspired his new employers to the final of the U.S. Open Cup, but sat out a meeting with the Houston Dynamo in that competition through injury. He has played just 37 minutes of Inter Miami’s last six games and faces a race against time to aid their ongoing bid to claim a play-off place in the MLS Eastern Conference.