Walker Zimmerman outlines Nashville plan to stop Lionel Messi

How do you stop Lionel Messi? It’s a question that players, coaches and managers have been asking themselves for quite some time, and no one has yet come up with a definitive answer.

Messi and Inter Miami Travel to Nashville SC for the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup clash on Thursday evening. The Argentine scored a stunning goal from the edge of the box when these two sides met in the Leagues Cup final last year.

Ahead of the CONCACAF rematch, Nashville captain Walker Zimmerman was asked how his side planned to keep Messi quiet.

“People have been trying to figure it out for decades,” Zimmerman replied. “I think we have done a good job in the past, the past few times that we’ve played them. It’s about not being afraid, about being fearless. You have to approach the Game in the same way that you would otherwise.”

“Be aware of where he is on the field, try to limit his space and try to limit his ability to run at you with pace, because when you give him that time and space he can pin-point a shot or a pass. Being close to him is probably the most important thing.”

Nashville aware of Inter Miami threat

Inter Miami began the 2024 campaign with two positive results, a 2-0 home victory over Real Salt Lake in the season opener and a hard-fought draw against LA Galaxy on the road. The Herons looked good, but not great.

That all changed in last weekend’s Turnpike Derby victory as Inter Miami put five goals past a strong Orlando City side. Two goals apiece for Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez was the first real output from their rekindled on-field relationship and it served as a warning to all who will face them this year.

Ahead of Thursday’s Game, Nashville head coach Gary Smith said: “What we’ve seen in the opening exchanges of the season is an improved Miami, certainly with the ball. The last Game against Orlando typified exactly what they’re about and what they’re capable of.”

“I’m not sure that group needs a lot of confidence-building, but I do think we see them go to a slightly different level when they get their teeth into a Game and they go in front.”

Nashville’s first priority on Thursday evening will be making life difficult for the Herons, preventing Messi and co. playing the Game on their terms. We have seen definite fallibility in this Inter Miami side but they are almost impossible to stop in full flow.