Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano is well aware that his star-studded team, led by Lionel Messi, finds itself in a seemingly insurmountable situation heading into the second leg of the Champions Cup semifinal against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday night.

Khelaifi took a thinly-veiled swipe at Lionel Messi as the team celebrated their advancement to the Champions League final. Messi had a two-year stint in France before joining Inter Miami in 2023. Messi's surprising transfer from Barcelona to PSG was intended to secure the club's first-ever Champions League trophy.

After getting things back on track with a victory over the New York Red Bulls, Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will begin a road trip that sees them face one of the best teams in the Western Conference, Minnesota United. The Loons have quietly risen to second in the conference behind a stout defense that will be pushed to the limits facing the Herons.