Fort Lauderdale: Lionel Messi once again proved his invaluable worth as Inter Miami staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Los Angeles FC 3-1 and secure a spot in the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Wednesday. With the aggregate score tied 2-2, Messi’s clinical penalty in the dying minutes sealed a 3-2 victory for Miami, sending the home team through to the next round.

At 37, the Argentine legend continues to defy age, not only with his technical brilliance but also with his relentless drive and passion. In a high-intensity, chaotic match, Messi was seen chasing down opponents, putting in crucial challenges, and showing the kind of determination that has made him a global icon. His coach, Javier Mascherano, described him as the "soul" of the team, praising his ability to compete with unmatched desire.

Messi’s impact was evident from the start, as Miami, trailing 1-0 from the first leg, quickly found themselves in a difficult position when Aaron Long scored for LAFC in the ninth minute. With the away goals rule still in effect, Miami needed three goals to stay alive in the tournament.

The tension mounted as Messi thought he had pulled one back with a quick free-kick, but after some confusion, the goal was ruled out. However, just before halftime, Messi delivered, linking up with his former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez for a clinical finish in the 35th minute to make it 1-1 on the night.

In the second half, Miami pressed for more goals, with LAFC remaining dangerous on the counter, particularly through winger Denis Bouanga. Miami eventually took the lead with a fortunate goal in the 55th minute when a ball into the box from Noah Allen found its way into the net after both Miami’s Federico Redondo and LAFC’s Hugo Lloris failed to make contact.

With the score 2-1, Inter Miami still needed one more goal to advance. The home crowd thought they had it when Suarez scored from a Messi cross, but the goal was disallowed for offside. In the 84th minute, Miami was awarded a lifeline when VAR ruled that LAFC’s Marlon had handled the ball in the box. Messi stepped up and calmly converted the penalty, completing the dramatic turnaround.