Fans mock Messi.

In the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-final against Los Angeles FC, a group of home fans unfurled a banner mocking Leo. His face was distorted with exaggerated features such as a bald head, pointed ears, and missing teeth, creating the appearance of a ridiculous cartoon character.

Below the image is the word “Pessi”, an ironic play on words, accompanied by a clown symbol to increase the insult. Notably, Messi in the photo is wearing a PSG shirt, implying mockery of his unsuccessful playing time in France.

It was an extreme move from a group of rival fans, aiming to put mental pressure on Leo. The incident made Inter Miami’s 0-1 defeat even more bitter, especially when they let their opponents dominate at BMO Stadium and faced the risk of being eliminated.

The turning point of the match came in the 57th minute when Nathan Ordaz fired a shot from outside the penalty area. Although the ball was not too strong, goalkeeper Ustari misjudged the position, causing Inter Miami to concede a goal and not be able to recover.

This was Javier Mascherano’s first defeat as Inter Miami head coach. Messi and his teammates played poorly, lacked innovation and did not create enough pressure.

Messi will certainly be motivated to take revenge after the personal insults aimed at him. Inter Miami will also need a perfect performance in the return leg on April 10 if they want to turn things around and qualify for the semi-finals.