The wait is almost over: Inter Miami and Tigres UANL will face off this Wednesday in the Leagues Cup 2025 quarterfinals. The match will not only feature the usual stars from the Miami side—led by Lionel Messi—but will also have a unique storyline: Ángel Correa will go up against two of his World Cup–winning teammates from Qatar 2022, Messi and Rodrigo De Paul.
This will be the first time Correa faces both Messi and De Paul together. However, the Argentine forward is no stranger to competing against them separately. Back in 2013, when he was still with San Lorenzo, he squared off against De Paul, who was at Racing.
Later, during his years with Atlético Madrid, Correa repeatedly faced Messi while the latter starred for Barcelona, all the way until 2021 when Messi departed LaLiga for PSG.
Facing Messi again: A challenge for Correa
Correa didn’t hide the difficulty of the task ahead when asked about meeting Messi once more on the pitch. “I’ve had to face him and suffer many times in Spain… It’s always nicer to have him on your team, obviously,” he admitted. Still, he insisted Tigres will be well-prepared: “Surely Guido Pizarro will set up the game plan not just to mark Messi, but to stop their entire attacking flow because they are a great team that scores a lot of goals.”
The Argentine striker emphasized his respect for both Messi and De Paul but made it clear Tigres won’t back down: “I know them very well, and I know the kind of competitive players they are. Beyond the respect we have, we’ll give everything. We’re preparing to play the best match possible and try to qualify.”
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Ángel Correa’s present in Liga MX
Correa also shared his happiness with his current experience in Mexico. “I’m very happy with this moment because I’ve found a great group who treated me very well from day one. I’m enjoying it a lot, and my family is very comfortable too. Monterrey is an incredible city, and I’m loving the present,” said the Argentine.
The 30-year-old forward has quickly adapted to Liga MX, becoming a vital piece in Tigres’ attack. His leadership and international experience are expected to play a key role in their chances against Inter Miami.
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A reunion with World Champions
For fans, the match is more than just a quarterfinal: it’s a rare reunion of three Argentine World Cup champions—Messi, De Paul, and Correa—now on opposing sides. With Inter Miami aiming to repeat their 2023 Leagues Cup triumph and Tigres determined to showcase Liga MX’s strength, Wednesday’s clash promises to be one of the most thrilling encounters of the tournament.
