What is Lionel Messi’s record against Mexican clubs? Has he ever played against Monterrey?

Inter Miami will go into the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-final against Monterrey looking to take a lead into next week’s return clash in Mexico, which will decide who qualifies for the semi-finals.

Messi ruled out for Inter Miami against Monterrey

The question that had been on everybody’s lips ahead of Wednesday’s game at Chase Stadium was whether Lionel Messi would be fit to play. The Argentina captain returned to training this week and looks to have left the worst of his muscle problems behind him, although Herons coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino has ultimately decided not to risk his talisman.

If the 36-year-old features in the second leg, he will face Mexican opposition for a sixth time in his career, with his previous appearances coming while playing for Barcelona and, despite only joining last summer, Inter Miami.

Of the previous five matches, there have been only two competitive fixtures, in addition to three friendlies.

How many goals has Messi scored against Mexican opposition?

Messi’s first match against a club from Mexico came in 2006, when Barcelona played out en entertaining 4-4 draw against Club América at Reliant Stadium (now NRG Stadium) in Houston. Then 19, the Argentine came on in the 62nd minute but didn’t find the net.

Three years later, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner faced Chivas, this time in San Francisco. Messi played the first half of the friendly but also failed to score as his team were held to a 1-1 draw.

The Barça legend then played his first competitive game against a Mexican adversary at the end of 2009 when the LaLiga giants played Atlante in the semi-finals of that year’s FIFA Club World Cup. The Liga MX side took a surprise early lead but Messi was among the scorers as Pep Guardiola’s team turned things around to win 3-1.

León were the next Mexican club to take on Messi’s Barcelona in the Joan Gamper Trophy in 2014 but suffered a 6-0 thrashing at Camp Nou, with the former Paris Saint-Germain star finding the net once.

Argentina captain’s iconic Inter Miami debut against Cruz Azul

And the Inter Miami playmaker’s most recent Mexican stand-off memorably came for his current employers in last year’s 2023 Leagues Cup.

On his debut for The Herons against Cruz Azul, Messi curled in a superb match-winning free-kick in the last minute, setting his new team on the road to their first ever trophy win.

All in all, Messi has scored three times in five games against Mexican teams, in which he has been on the winning side on three occasions. Next Wednesday is likely to be the first time he plays against Monterrey...provided he is passed fit.