Charlotte FC Secures Historic Ninth Straight Win Against Messi and Inter Miami

On Saturday September 13, 2025, a little boy from Rosario, Santa Fe arrived in the Queen City. Lionel Messi and Inter Miami clashed with Charlotte FC in a pivotal MLS matchup. With his best friend and fellow striker, Luis Suárez, serving a three-match suspension, Inter Miami faced intense pressure heading into the game.

Wherever Messi travels, crowds follow him. Despite ticket prices soaring to nearly four times the usual rate, Bank of America Stadium filled. Since this marked his first appearance in Charlotte in two years, anticipation buzzed around witnessing a master at work.

Lionel Messi plays like a magician destined for the pitch. In over 22 years with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami, he has tallied 882 goals and 387 assists. His trophy cabinet includes 46 collective honors which include eight Ballon d’Ors, a World Cup, two Copa Americas, 10 La Ligas, and four Champions League titles.

But Messi does not stand alone among legends. Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets have shared the field with him for a combined total of 38 years, including 28 at Barcelona. Each has an impressive resume. Alba and Busquets each spent over nine years at Barça, winning league titles and a Euro championship with Spain. Suárez earned two Golden Boots in Europe with Barcelona and Liverpool, and led Uruguay to Copa América glory in 2011.

Idan Toklommati taking a penalty (Credit: Google)

With stars lighting up the pitch, the match promised to be unforgettable. Near the end of the opening 30 minutes, the scoreline remained locked until Charlotte defender Adilson Malanda fouled Messi inside the box, handing Inter Miami a penalty. Messi exhaled and attempted a panenka, but goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina read it perfectly and denied the effort.

That save ignited Charlotte’s momentum. Within three minutes, winger Kerwin Vargas sliced a pass across the box to connect with striker Idan Toklomati for the opening goal. Idan struck again just two minutes into the second half, receiving a pass from midfielder Brandt Bronico in the center of the box and tapping it in to double the lead.

Inter Miami’s troubles deepened in the 79th minute when defender Tomás Avilés fouled Idan, picked up his second yellow card, and exited the match, leaving his team with only ten players. Less than five minutes later, Charlotte star Wilfried Zaha drew a foul inside the box, earning the locals a penalty. With a hat trick in sight, Idan stepped up and buried the ball in the bottom left corner. This marked his third goal of the day and the final blow in a 3-0 triumph.

Fans stood stunned by the result. The night engraved unforgettable memories for Idan Toklomati and Kristijan Kahlina. Charlotte FC now holds third place in the Eastern Conference with a strong shot at the playoffs. Inter Miami, sitting in fifth, still remain well-positioned to qualify despite the setback.