Luis Suárez had the game-winning penalty kick, and Inter Miami rallied to beat Necaxa in the Leagues Cup after losing Lionel Messi to a hamstring injury in the opening minutes.

Lionel Messi watched from the sidelines, while Inter Miami advanced to the knockout stage in the 2025 Leagues Cup tournament.

Inter Miami will host Pumas UNAM on Wednesday, Aug. 6, at Chase Stadium in their final match in phase one of the 2025 Leagues Cup tournament. The competition brings positive memories for the club and will fuel their desire to win, Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said, as the team won the inaugural Leagues Cup in 2023.

Luis Suárez scored and had two assists, and Inter Miami beat Pumas 3-1 on Wednesday night to advance in the Leagues Cup.

The Leagues Cup, first introduced in 2019, pits the best clubs from Major League Soccer against those from Mexico’s top professional league, Liga MX. It has led to some exciting action, as it gives each league the chance to earn bragging rights, along with the opportunity for clubs to take home a trophy.

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami won their first match in the 2025 Leagues Cup but are looking up at five other clubs in the tournament standings.