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By Hong Duy  February 21, 2025 | 06:30 pm PT
Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring the only goal in the match between Inter Miami and Kansas City at Sporting Park, Kansas City, Missouri on Feb. 19, 2025. Photo by Inter Miami
Mexican referee Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava was fined for requesting Lionel Messi's jersey after Inter Miami’s game with Kansas City in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Following Miami’s 1-0 away win at Sporting Park, Kansas on Wednesday, Messi greeted both Kansas City players and the referee crew. After the final whistle, Ortiz approached Messi and appeared to request an autographed jersey for a family member. A surprised Messi nodded in agreement, later giving Ortiz the signed jersey in the locker room.
The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) confirmed that Ortiz’s actions violated their code of conduct for match officials, which prohibits asking for autographs or souvenirs from players.
In their statement, the organization noted Ortiz admitted his mistake, apologized and accepted the fine. Specific details of the penalty were not disclosed.
Ortiz, 37, a Mexican referee, officiated another Miami match last season, during their CONCACAF Champions Cup round of 16 clash against Nashville.
Messi’s decisive goal, chested down and finished with a right-footed strike, secured Miami’s lead heading into the Feb. 25 return leg in Florida.
The match also marked a historic low in temperature for a match between MLS teams, with minus 16 degrees Celsius. The previous record of minus 7 degrees was set in a 2019 game between Colorado Rapids and Portland Timbers.
After the game, Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano called the extreme weather conditions "not fit for human" and commended his team’s determination. He also lauded Messi’s game-winning effort, remarking, "That goal was beautiful, though for anyone familiar with Messi, it’s just another day. He has scored that type of goal a thousand times. We’re incredibly fortunate to have him."
Miami is participating in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, often dubbed the region’s equivalent of Europe’s Champions League, for the second consecutive year. Their inaugural campaign in 2024 ended in a quarterfinal defeat to Monterrey. This year’s tournament features 27 teams competing in a knockout format, culminating in the final on June 1.
Referee Marco Antonio Ortiz asks for Messi's jersey after Inter Miami’s game with Kansas City in the CONCACAF Champions Cup at Sporting Park, Kansas, on Feb. 19, 2025.
