Heartbreaking news: Phil Neville has just announce a devastating news….

Playing soccer with your friends is really, really fun, so you can understand why Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets have been enjoying the Inter Miami experience. You’ve seen the photos of the ex-Barcelona stars together; laughing, smiling, having a good time, and rightfully so. These four created so many memories together and, now in the twilight of their careers, they have the opportunity to create a few more.

Wednesday night was not one of those fun, happy memories, though. Inter Miami’s trip to Monterrey wasn’t one full of smiles and laughs. It was embarrassing in ways that Messi and co. aren’t particularly used to. Barcelona rarely gets outclassed the way Inter Miami was on Wednesday, and Messi and friends rarely have been humbled in the way they were in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

It was a harsh reminder that these matches aren’t all fun and games. By the end, Inter Miami’s stars seemed to have learned that, having lost their heads throughout the 3-1 drubbing

The defeat ensured Miami’s continental run was over for 2024, and all involved will take some sort of blame for that. How will they bounce back from such an embarrassing defeat? Well, that may very well define their season.

There was reason for hope heading into Wednesday’s second leg. Having narrowly lost 2-1 in the first, Miami had Messi back from injury. David Ruiz’s red card doomed them in that opening leg, one played without the Argentine. But with Messi back in the XI, Monterrey would have their hands full.

It didn’t go that way. Not even close, as Rayados never had to sweat. An early gaffe from Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender allowed the hosts to increase their lead, and they never looked back. By the 64th minute, it was 3-0 and the atmosphere had turned into a party. Fans were chanting “Ronaldo” at Miami’s players, no doubt adding even more frustration by celebrating Messi’s biggest rival.

The visitors got a consolation goal late, but that didn’t matter much; the damage had already been done. Some were resigned to the defeat, others fought back, but Inter Miami’s exit was confirmed early and often by a ruthless Rayados side.

In many ways, Messi’s supporting cast let him down. Callender’s early mishap was a disaster, Nicolas Freire was spun around for the second goal, and Tomas Aviles’ horrible pass directly led to Monterrey’s third. On nights like this, Miami needed more out of their role players. The ex-Barcelona gang, though, wasn’t without blame themselves.