Lionel Messi missed a chance to score his 900th career goal as Inter Miami CF played a 0-0 draw against Nashville SC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Wednesday.
The match was the first leg of the round of 16. It took place in Nashville. The second leg will be played next Wednesday in Miami.
Messi was closely marked during the game. The Argentine star found little space in attack.
Last Saturday, Messi scored his 80th goal for Inter Miami in a win over D.C. United in Major League Soccer. That goal was the 899th of his career. He now needs one more to reach the 900 goal mark.
The eight time Ballon d’Or winner will turn 39 in June. Earlier in his career, Messi scored 672 goals for FC Barcelona and 32 for Paris Saint-Germain. He also has 115 goals for Argentina national football team.
The first half ended without a goal. Rain started to fall later in the match, but both teams’ defenders stayed strong.
Messi came close in the 57th minute. Nashville goalkeeper Brian Schwake saved his right foot shot from the right side of the box.
Inter Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair also made an important save. In the 65th minute he stopped a header from Reed Baker-Whiting after a cross by Cristian Espinoza. The save kept the match goalless.
