Inter Miami and Tigres UANL have faced each other twice in Leagues Cup competition. Each team won once. Each match ended 2-1. Both times, Lionel Messi watched from the sidelines.
The series stands level after two years of meetings between one of MLS’s most ambitious clubs and a Liga MX heavyweight with eight Mexican championships. Here’s what happened in both matches.
Table of Contents
First Meeting: Tigres Win in Houston (August 3, 2024)
Tigres UANL defeated Inter Miami 2-1 in the Leagues Cup group stage at NRG Stadium in Houston. The match drew 46,080 fans and settled which team would top East Group 3.
Brunetta Opens Scoring (18′)
Juan Brunetta gave Tigres the lead 18 minutes into the match. The goal started with a mistake from Inter Miami defender Tomás Avilés, who tried to play the ball out from his own penalty area. Marcelo Flores intercepted the pass and headed it to Nicolás Ibáñez. One quick touch later, the ball reached Brunetta, who struck a first-time volley into the far corner.
Goalkeeper Drake Callender had little chance to react. The build-up took seconds from turnover to finish.
Campana Equalizes from the Spot (74′)
Inter Miami controlled most of the match statistics. They held 55.9% possession and earned seven corner kicks to Tigres’ two. But they couldn’t find a goal until the 72nd minute, when Guido Pizarro fouled Leonardo Campana inside the box.
Campana took the penalty himself two minutes later. He converted with a no-look finish past Nahuel Guzmán, tying the match at 1-1. The goal gave the Ecuadorian striker 29 career goals for Inter Miami, matching Gonzalo Higuaín’s club record.
Vigón’s Late Winner (84′)
Tigres regained the lead six minutes from full time. Substitute Serhiy Kryvtsov attempted a clearance but hit it weakly. The ball fell to Juan Pablo Vigón, who had space inside Miami’s penalty area. The 33-year-old Mexican midfielder took one touch and fired a shot off the crossbar into the net.
Final Stats:
- Possession: Tigres 44.1%, Inter Miami 55.9%
- Shots on target: Tigres 3, Inter Miami 5
- Saves: Guzmán (Tigres) 4, Callender (Miami) 1
Messi’s Absence
Lionel Messi missed the match while recovering from an ankle injury suffered in Argentina’s Copa America final win over Colombia one month earlier. Manager Gerardo Martino rotated his squad for the fixture, knowing Miami had already qualified for the knockout rounds before kickoff.
Tigres finished first in the group with six points. Inter Miami placed second with three points and advanced to face either Pachuca or Toronto FC in the Round of 32.
Second Meeting: Miami Gets Revenge (August 20, 2025)
Inter Miami won 2-1 at home in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. A crowd of 18,597 watched Luis Suárez score twice from the penalty spot to send the Herons into the semifinals.
Suárez Converts First Penalty (23′)
Inter Miami earned a penalty kick in the 23rd minute. Suárez stepped up and converted to give the home side a 1-0 lead. The Uruguayan striker had been in strong form, scoring in his previous match against LA Galaxy.
Head coach Javier Mascherano made tactical adjustments to account for Messi’s absence. He started Yannick Bright as an additional midfielder, allowing Rodrigo De Paul to push higher up the field. Tadeo Allende and Telasco Segovia supported Suárez in the attack.
Correa Levels the Score (67′)
Ángel Correa equalized for Tigres in the 67th minute. The Argentine forward, who won the 2022 World Cup alongside several Miami players, finished past goalkeeper Óscar Ustari to make it 1-1.
Eight minutes later, Correa had a clear chance to put Tigres ahead. He hit a powerful shot from inside the box, but Ustari pulled off a critical save to keep the match level.
Suárez Seals It (89′)
Inter Miami won another penalty as the match neared its end. Suárez took the kick again in the 89th minute and scored his second goal of the night. The late strike secured Miami’s place in the semifinals, where they would meet Orlando City.
The result gave Suárez three goals in his last four appearances across all competitions. His performance proved vital after returning from an earlier scoring drought.
Final Stats:
- Possession: Inter Miami 40.3%, Tigres 59.7%
- Shots on target: Inter Miami 4, Tigres 2
- Saves: Ustari (Miami) 2, Guzmán (Tigres) 1
Messi Out Again
Messi missed his second straight match against Tigres, this time with a hamstring problem. He had aggravated the injury during Miami’s 3-1 win over LA Galaxy six days earlier, where he scored and assisted after coming on as a second-half substitute.
The 38-year-old didn’t train with the team on Tuesday and was ruled out of the matchday squad on Wednesday. Manager Mascherano confirmed Messi felt “discomfort” and couldn’t be risked in a knockout match.
Head-to-Head Record
Overall: 1 win each, 0 draws
Goals: Inter Miami 2, Tigres UANL 4
Venues: 1 neutral site (Houston), 1 home (Fort Lauderdale)
Both matches featured:
- 2-1 scorelines
- Penalty kicks scored
- Messi absences due to injury
- High possession for one team (55%+) that lost
Tigres dominated possession in 2025 but couldn’t finish their chances. Inter Miami controlled the ball in 2024 but conceded late. The team with less possession won both times.
What Comes Next
The head-to-head series between Inter Miami vs Tigres UANL remains tied after two competitive matches. Both clubs will likely meet again in future Leagues Cup editions.
Tigres hold their position as one of Liga MX’s most successful teams. They’ve won eight league titles and multiple CONCACAF trophies. Inter Miami continue building a roster capable of competing for continental honors, with or without Messi available.
The Leagues Cup format guarantees regular matchups between top MLS and Liga MX sides. These two clubs have shown they can produce tight, competitive matches regardless of personnel. Expect another chapter when the 2026 tournament arrives.
