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‘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 <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/secret-meetings-10-year-project-how-david-beckham-signed-lionel-messi-inter-miami-co-owner/bltcc28a521e2bdff22 " target="_blank">MLS challenge in 2023</a> at Nashville. He lined up against Messi in the final of the inaugural Leagues Cup – with the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/lionel-messi-et-inter-miami-superstar-getting-better-ganso-extraterrestrial-qualities-ballon-d-or/blt804757aa69acff64" target="_blank">netting a stunning goal in that contest</a> before going on to convert his penalty in a successful shootout for Inter Miami.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Surridge may have found himself on the losing side that day, but he has told <a href="https://www.livescore.com/en/news/exclusive-sam-surridge-lionel-messi-nashville-inter-miami-mls-2023092812202520013/ " target="_blank">Live Score</a> of <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/trophy-mls-stars-react-lionel-messi-shirt-swaps-inter-miami-12-jerseys/blt1620ad852a023e45" target="_blank">gracing the same pitch as all-time great</a> 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.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Success in the Leagues Cup, which came a matter of weeks after his arrival in the United States, saw Messi <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/44-trophies-lionel-messi-all-time-record-very-good-hands-inter-miami-tata-martino-historic-leagues-cup/blt4c0a84c28d5bf241 " target="_blank">make more history as he landed the 44th major honour of his remarkable career</a>. In total, the 36-year-old South American has scored 11 goals through 12 appearances for Inter Miami.

DID YOU KNOW?

Messi also inspired his new employers to the final of the U.S. Open Cup, but <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/mistake-lionel-messi-injury-update-us-open-cup-final-inter-miami-tata-martino-houston-dynamo/blt56d22b955170183b" target="_blank">sat out a meeting with the Houston Dynamo</a> in that competition through injury. He has <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/circus-continues-lionel-messi-inter-miami-another-final-tata-martino-worn-out-team-mls-play-offs/blt0f260ec4f1dfa8bc" target="_blank">played just 37 minutes of Inter Miami’s last six games</a> and faces a race against time to aid their <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/explained-why-lionel-messi-biggest-break-career-inter-miami-mls-play-off-dream/blta3780bffaf2282bc" target="_blank">ongoing bid to claim a play-off place in the MLS Eastern Conference</a>.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

‘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 | Goal.com US

Sam Surridge has reflected on facing Lionel Messi, saying the Inter Miami star “wasn’t doing much” before than putting the ball “in the top corner”.

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

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