Lionel Messi Jeered With Cristiano Ronaldo Chants as Inter Miami Suffers Champions Cup Exit

Lionel Messi Jeered With Cristiano Ronaldo Chants as Inter Miami Suffers Champions Cup Exit

Martin Moses
updated at April 11, 2024 at 6:46 AM
In this article:
Cristiano Ronaldo logo
C. Ronaldo
Al Nassr FC logoFPortugal logo
Al Nassr FC logo
Al Nassr
Saudi Arabia
33
Lionel Messi logo
L.Messi
Inter Miami CF logoFArgentina logo
Inter Miami CF logo
Club Internacional de Futbol Miami
United States
27
Monterrey logo
Rayados de Monterrey
Mexico
34
  • Lionel Messi was jeered by opposition fans chanting Cristiano Ronaldo's name
  • Messi failed to spark as Inter Miami were eliminated from the Champions Cup
  • Monterrey beat the Messi-led Herons 5-2 on aggregate to qualify for the semis

Lionel Messi was subjected to Cristiano Ronaldo chants on April 11 as he endured a frustrating game at the Estadio BBVA Bancomer.

Messi and his Inter Miami side crashed out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup after losing to hosts 3-1, making the aggregate score 5-2, following last week's 2-1 loss in Florida.

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, CONCACAF Champions Cup, Inter Miami, Monterrey. Al-Nassr
Lionel Messi reacts during Inter Miami's clash against Monterrey on April 11. Photo by Alfredo Lopez/Jam Media.
Source: Getty Images

Monterrey vs Inter Miami: what happened?

The Herons' ambitions of making it to the semi-finals suffered a major blow in the 30th minute when a loose pass from goalkeeper, Drake Callender, was intercepted by Brandon Vazquez, who put the hosts ahead.

Further goals from German Berterame and Jesus Gallardo rendered a late goal from Diego Gomez a mere consolation. Tata Martino's side finished the game with 10 men after Jordi Alba was sent off for a second bookable offence.

The game was the first time Messi started and he lasted the entire 90 minutes since returning from a muscle injury over the weekend. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner assisted Gomez's late goal but couldn't do anything else to save his side from elimination.

Fans chant Cristiano Ronaldo's name

In the course of the game, chants of Ronaldo were heard in the stadium from Monterrey fans. Messi and his rival have dominated football conversations for more than 15 years and even after leaving Europe, they continue to attract intense attention.

Ronaldo banned for one match

The Portuguese veteran has similarly been subjected to Messi's chants in the Saudi Pro League on many occasions, although this sparked a different reaction from him.

In February, Sports Brief reported that Ronaldo was handed a one-match ban after he made a crude gesture to Al-Shabab fans who were chanting the name of Messi.

Ronaldo performed the gesture towards the end of the game after his Al-Nassr side battled to a 3-2 win courtesy of an Anderson Talisca winner four minutes from time.

Authors
Martin Moses photo
Martin Moses
Martin Moses is a sports journalist with over five years of experience in media. He graduated from Multimedia University of Kenya (Bachelor of Journalism, 2017-2021)