After Messi's Jamaica magic, what are his 5 best Inter Miami moments?

Messi didn't start Thursday night's match between Inter Miami and Cavalier FC in Concacaf Champions Cup action on Thursday night. And there were concerns from the 35,000 on hand at Jamaica's National Stadium in Kingston that he might not even take the field.

But in the end, he not only came on for a second-half salvo, he delivered the one climactic moment that everyone had hoped for. It may not have changed the outcome -- Miami won 2-0 on the night and advanced to the quarterfinals with a 4-0 win on aggregate -- but it met the occasion in a way nothing else could.

Messi has a way of doing that. He always has. And thankfully for us who watch MLS, we've now gotten to see a few of them up close in personal (Or at least on FS2 outside of daytime working hours.)

Here are five of his most important goals since donning the Pink and Black of the Herons. And yes, we bailed out on ranking them by listing them in chronological order.

Inter Miami vs. Cruz Azul

July 21, 2023 - Leagues Cup

Having only arrived in South Florida a few days prior, Messi made his Miami debut in their 2023 Leagues Cup opener at home against Cruz Azul. It was his after his entrance that the Liga MX stalwards pulled level. But then he decided affairs on this delicious late free kick.

Nashvills SC vs. Inter Miami

Aug. 19, 2023 - Leagues Cup

Nashville did just about everything right in the first-ever Leagues Cup final to try and shut down the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner. And still, midway through the first half, he found an opening to curl this exceptional finish inside the far post. The match would finish 1-1, with Messi and Miami prevailing on penalties for their first major trophy together.

Columbus Crew vs. Inter Miami

Oct. 2, 2024 - MLS Regular Season

The 2024 Supporters' Shield was still in doubt when the Shield-leading Herons made the trip to Ohio to face the second-place Columbus Crew. Messi had only been back with the club a few weeks after missing more than three months for Copa America duty for Argentina and recovery from an injury that followed. But when it was clinch time, his brace here was the difference.

Inter Miami vs. New England Revolution

Oct. 19, 2024 - MLS Regular Season

Only four days removed from a hat trick for Argentina against Bolivia in a 6-0 home World Cup qualifying win, Messi came off the bench in the second half for Miami with a chance at the MLS all-time points record on the line. Some 34 minutes later, he had his first MLS hat trick to send the Herons flying through the finish line in pursuit of regular season history.

Cavalier FC vs. Inter Miami

March 13, 2025 - Concacaf Champions Cup

While the competitive outcome was sealed, the stakes were extraordinarily high from a soccer diplomacy standpoint in Messi's first-ever competitive match in the Caribbean. And muscle fatigue meant Messi was a question coming into the encounter. for which Cavalry FC had sold out Jamaica's National Stadium weeks in advance. But on he came after half, and just before the whistle, he did this.