Messi and made-over Miami come to town
Zaha laments three yellow cards in three games, front office's focus on fan engagement, and previewing Saturday's showdown
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Charlotte FC brings confidence of matching up well against Messi and Miami, including last September’s 3-0 win to match an MLS record streak
Messi has scored two goals in four games against Charlotte FC but his penalty miss opened the door to Charlotte’s 3-0 win last September. (Photo by Kevin Young of The 5 and 2 Project.)
Lionel Messi and defending MLS Cup champion Inter Miami come to town Saturday, which means the Charlotte FC faithful are in for a good show, and if recent history serves, a good game.
Charlotte FC got blown out 4-0 in its first game after Messi signed with Inter Miami in the summer of 2023, in the quarterfinals of the Leagues Cup. In six games since then, the Crown has played Miami tough, going 2-2-2 overall. When Messi is actually on the field — and not away with Argentina’s national team — Charlotte FC has not lost.
The last time Messi was in town, Charlotte FC matched the longest winning streak in MLS history with a ninth straight win, 3-0 over Miami.
(The two losses during that six-game series stretch came in games Messi did not play: when Miami was managing Messi’s load and resting him last March, Miami won 1-0 despite being a man down following a red card; and July 3, 2024, in Charlotte when Miami won 2-1 win while Messi was playing in the Copa America.)
Messi has scored three goals already and played all 90 minutes of Miami’s first four games, including a 0-0 draw Wednesday against Nashville in the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16.
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Charlotte FC vs. Inter Miami when Lionel Messi played:
Date, Result, Location:
Aug. 11, 2023: Miami won 4-0*, Chase Stadium
Oct. 21, 2023: Charlotte won 1-0, Bank of America Stadium
Sept. 18, 2024: Miami tied Charlotte 1-1*, Chase Stadium
Sept. 13, 2025: Charlotte won 3-0, Bank of America Stadium
*Messi scored one goal for Inter Miami
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Idan Toklomati scored a hat trick in Charlotte FC’s 3-0 win last Sept. 13 at Bank of America Stadium. Goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina saved a penalty attempt by Messi that turned the momentum Charlotte’s way.
“I just think we’re a really competitive team who can up our game at times to compete with the best in the league,” Charlotte FC coach Dean Smith said. “I think certain games will lift certain players up to a different level because of certain people they’re playing against because you always want to test yourself against the best.”
Zaha greets Messi in the pre-game handshake line before Charlotte FC’s 3-0 win over Miami last Sept. 13 (Photo by Taylor Banner, Charlotte FC.)
Zaha looked ready to test himself against Messi for the first time last September when he greeted him in the pre-game handshake line. (See for yourself above.) When he was shown the photograph and asked what was on his mind in that moment, Zaha said Thursday, “nothing.”
“Messi is the G.O.A.T [greatest of all time],” Zaha said. “But I swear to you, when I go on the pitch, I just try to clear my mind. … There, it’s like I know I’m playing against Messi, I’m playing against one of the best players ever, but it’s football and I’m here to do a job. That was a blank stare.”
Changes in Messi’s supporting cast
Miami comes to town looking a little different than last year. Veteran international stars Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets both retired after Miami won the MLS Cup last season, leaving only Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul on the roster as Messi’s closest lieutenants. Meanwhile, Miami added defending MLS goalkeeper of the year Dayne St. Clair from Minnesota United to replace Oscar Ustari and signed Argentinian-born striker German Berterame for a $15 million transfer fee from Monterrey in Mexico’s Liga MX, one of the largest in MLS history.
As to what that means for Charlotte? Here’s a translation from Smith: “They’ve probably got a little more legs in the team,” he said.
Miami will need them after playing Wednesday to a 0-0 draw in Nashville, their third consecutive road game, while Charlotte FC was idle. Messi played the full 90 minutes.
Yellow cards, and frustration, piling up for Zaha
As demonstrative as he is on the field, you can imagine how demonstrative Zaha can be in the press room. And after accumulating three yellow cards in his first three games, his frustration levels are palpable.
“I don’t enjoy being fouled a million times and then at the 85th minute the referee says ‘OK, no more touching him,’” Zaha said. “Preseason, we have hour meetings with referees but nothing [changes]. Three games, I’ve got three cards. I don’t understand.”
He picked up his most recent yellow card in last Saturday’s 3-1 win over Austin FC for reacting to a foul called against him by referee Rosendo Mendoza.
“When the referee gave the foul, when I barely touched the fullback, I was like ‘What the hell?’” Zaha said. “I usually get yellow carded for even saying what’s on my mind, but throughout the game, there’s three, four players in his face speaking Spanish, shouting whatever. If I had turned around and said something in Spanish, would I have not got a card?”
The clock is ticking now, and if he picks up two more, he’ll have to serve a one-game suspension. He can erase one from the total for good behavior if he can go five games without getting booked. That’s going to be a challenge at this rate.
Zaha has been asking for better protection from MLS officials since he arrived last season, and led MLS in fouls drawn. This year, he’s third (12) in MLS so far, behind Toronto’s Richie Laryea (16) and San Jose’s Ousseni Bouda (13).
Zaha said:
We know what I bring to the game. I’m going to dribble, which brings eyes, and everyone enjoys people doing magic on the pitch, but then because I do that, am I not supposed to get any protection because teams go out to literally kick me or annoy me?
So you can say Wilfried Zaha goes for every rage bait, but how about trying to protect me? … It’s easy for people to say, “Just get on with it.” But I’ve got battle scars on my ankles and my knees. Every time I step out to train, my ankles hurt from being studded and kicked.
After a while, it’s beyond just look away from it, if someone is genuinely trying to hurt me. I get looked at in the wrong way because I get angry about it.
Fan engagement underway: Tepper Sports CEO mingles at pre-game supporters’ tailgate
One area Charlotte FC’s front office admits to letting lapse as it restructured over the last season is with fan engagement. Tepper Sports and Entertainment CEO Kristi Coleman, whose duties with Charlotte FC expanded after president Joe LaBue was let go prior to last season, said she made a mistake in her initial approach.
“I need to be more visible, and I see that, I feel that,” Coleman said recently. “And listening to fans, listening to the supporters, I’ve learned that it’s really important. … It’s maybe something I wasn’t as familiar with before, but now learning and understanding that is critical.”
Coleman has had a much more noticeable presence heading into this season, with both media and fans. She attended the jersey release party last month and on Saturday spent nearly an hour before the home opener mingling with fans at the supporters’ tailgate.
“We really want to reinvigorate our supporters,” Coleman said. “Our supporters are, in my opinion, our lifeblood. They bring the atmosphere. They bring the fun. It’s what really sets Charlotte FC apart from not just the other sports in Charlotte but from the other teams in the league.”
Matt Swift, one of the founding officers of Mint City Collective, had a chance to interact with her Saturday, broaching topics like season ticket pricing and benefits, access to MLS All-Star tickets and more.
“It was great to see her engaging with everyone,” Swift said. “I think it’s important for front office members to spend time with fans — not just supporter groups but all fans.”
Notable: MLS debut, lifetime MLS ban
◼️ Aron John debut: Charlotte’s own Aron John made his MLS debut coming off the bench in the final moments of Saturday’s game against Austin FC. John won the club’s first-ever Academy Player of the Year award two years ago and has been on Smith’s radar for the past two seasons.
“Ever since the club started, I wanted to be in the academy,” he said. “I wanted to be a part of this. It takes a little time to go through it. You have to be patient as a young player. If the coaches are willing to give you an opportunity, you’ve got to be ready. You have to show that in training.”
◼️ Lifetime ban: Former Charlotte FC midfielder Derrick Jones received a lifetime suspension from MLS, announced this week, for violating the MLS gambling policy during two seasons with Columbus Crew. Jones, who played 44 games for Charlotte in 2022 and 2023, left for Columbus in December 2023 via free agency.
MLS revealed that an independent investigation determined that Jones and Columbus teammate Yaw Yeboah “engaged in extensive gambling on soccer, including their own teams, during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. In one instance, both players bet on Jones to draw a yellow card during an October 19, 2024, match, which he received.”
Up Next: Charlotte FC (1-1-1) vs. Miami (2-1-0)
When/Where: Bank of America Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
How to watch: Apple TV.
How to listen: WFNZ 92.7 in English, WOLS 106.1 in Spanish.
Notable:
Charlotte set a new record for lower bowl attendance last week at Bank of America Stadium with 35,611 for its home opener against Austin FC. Expect something similar Saturday for Messi and Miami.
Pep Biel scored two goals, and had a third disallowed on a Brandt Broncio handball, in Charlotte’s 3-1 win over Austin FC in the home opener at Bank of America Stadium last Saturday.
New attacking midfielder Luca De La Torre, who assisted Biel’s second goal, is a question mark after he took a blow to the head during a post-game practice. Smith said he had entered the concussion protocol.
Miami played Wednesday in Nashville, drawing 0-0, in the first leg of the Round of 16 series in the Concacaf Champions Cup. This is the fourth consecutive road game for Miami, which beat Orlando City 4-2 and D.C. United 2-1 on the road.
Miami is scheduled to open its brand new home, Nu Stadium, on April 4 against Austin FC. The 26,700-seat, $1 billion stadium project is part of the Miami Freedom Park entertainment district that is adjacent to the Miami Airport.
Carroll Walton is a longtime baseball writer with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution now in her fifth season covering Charlotte FC. She would love to hear from you. E-mail her with questions, suggestions, story ideas and comments!
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