Many fans were angry when Nashville SC defender Lukas MacNaughton was not fined for kicking Inter Miami striker Lionel Messi in the leg during a 2-2 draw on the morning of March 8.

In the 77th minute, MacNaughton threw his foot up to pass. When landing, this player’s foot stepped straight on the “copper tube” of Lionel Messi, who was rushing to apply pressure. The Nashville defender was not penalized, and Messi hugged his leg, showing signs of pаin, before the referee stopped the match so doctors could take care of him. After that, the World Cup champion returned to the field and played out the match.

Messi’s near ιnjury and the referee’s decision not to penalize MacNaughton angered many Messi fans. “Players like this should be banned for six months,” a fan wrote on X after the match.

Many other fans also requested a ban for MacNaughton, along with profanity about the situation. One person called the referee a “clown” and wondered why there was no red card for the Nashville defender.

MacNaughton’s reaction was also noted. One fan wrote: “You can see the feаr in the eyes of the player wearing shirt number 3. He knows he is about to become the most hated person in football.”

Jacob Shaffelburg scored twice in the fourth and 47th minute, giving Nashville a 2-0 lead. However, Messi’s long shot in the 52nd minute and Luis Suarez’s header in the 90+5 minute helped Inter Miami draw 2-2 on the opponent’s field in the first leg of the 1/8 round of CONCACAF Champions League – Cup C1 zone. North Central America region. On March 14, the two teams will play the return match at Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium.

The winner of the pair Nashville – Inter Miami will advance to the quarterfinals to meet the winner of the pair FC Cincinnati – Monterrey. In the first leg of the round of 16, Monterrey won 1-0 on Cincinnati’s field.

Nashville was Inter Miami’s opponent in the Leagues Cup final last season. At that time, the two teams drew 1-1 in 120 minutes with one goal from Messi, before Inter Miami won 10-9 in the penalty shootout. In another cоnfrоntatiоn at the end of last season in MLS, the two teams drew 0-0.

Messi’s team has remained unbeaten since the beginning of the 2024 season. Previously, in the first three matches of the MLS tournament, they won 2-0 against Real Salt Lake, drew 1-1 with LA Galaxy and won 5-0 against Orlando City. On March 11, Inter Miami will host Montreal in round four. Messi is leading the team’s scoring list, with four goals in four matches.