Lionel Messi scored on his return to action as Inter Miami triumphed 2-0 in Jamaica over Cavalier FC on Thursday to qualify for the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Messi bolstered Miami's attack when coming off the bench in the second half to help propel the team to a 4-0 aggregate victory in the round-of-16 tie, returning to the pitch for the first time since facing Sporting Kansas City on Feb. 25.
Messi sat out three games for Miami as head coach Javier Mascherano stressed that the star forward needed to be rested due to load management, in an effort to avoid a future injury.
His entrance off the bench in place of Luis Suárez in the 53rd minute prompted loud cheers from the large crowd at Kingston's Independence Park as the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner made his first appearance in Jamaica.
And he made an immediate impact for the Major League Soccer side. The captain marked his comeback with a goal just seconds before the final whistle, rocketing the ball into the opposite corner of the net. The assist came from Inter Miami's 18-year-old homegrown player Santiago Morales, who made his MLS debut earlier this season.
When addressing the media Wednesday, Mascherano confirmed that Messi would travel with the team to Jamaica but didn't disclose whether the famed No. 10 would make an appearance.
"We knew that Leo wasn't playing for the last three or four games," Mascherano said after the game Thursday. "Obviously we wanted him playing but we need to know and to find the moment to send him to the pitch.
"I think it was good because he felt very good on the pitch. He could score. The people in Jamaica could see him. So great, great night for everyone."
Messi's first visit to the Caribbean to play in an official match was highly anticipated. He and his Miami teammates were greeted by Olivia Grange, Jamaica's Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport, upon arrival at the airport.
Cavalier FC usually plays in a 3,000-seat stadium but moved the Champions Cup match to the country's national stadium, which has a capacity of 35,000.
Miami entered the game with a 2-0 advantage from the first leg at home last week, thanks to goals from Tadeo Allende and Suárez.
Miami then quickly extended the lead in the first half of the second leg when earning a penalty from a foul on Allende inside the box. Suárez stepped up to the spot and rocketed the ball into the lower left corner of the net.
Inter Miami will now prepare to face LAFC in the quarterfinals of the Champions Cup, after the MLS Western Conference team defeated the Columbus Crew in the round of 16.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.