Inside Inter Miami: La Familia fan protest clouds first home win, Messi heroics
Inter Miami finally won a home game at Nu Stadium on the fifth try, 2-0 over Phil Neville’s Portland Timbers, and yet, all anyone is talking about is the silent protest staged by La Familia supporters, who felt Lionel Messi and his teammates were ignoring them by failing to salute them after recent games.
Adding fuel to the situation was La Familia’s decision to break their silence with the melody of a well-known derogatory Argentine chant starting in the 85th minute of the game. Although they changed the lyrics, Messi stood with his hands on his hips at midfield, eyes squinted, looking over at the North stands, appearing confused and irritated by the chant. After the game, he saluted fans in the East, South and West stands, but not La Familia.
In this week’s episode of Inside Inter Miami, Apple TV analyst Jake Zivin, who broadcast the game, helps us break down the Sunday drama on and off the field. We also discuss Messi appearing in peak form as the World Cup approaches, Inter Miami on a roll, preview the upcoming game against Philadelphia Union, and we hear interesting interviews with Neville about his last days as Inter Miami coach, his dismissal and Messi’s arrival.
Remember, you can watch this show on YouTube and on our site at miamiherald.com. The podcast is available on Spotify, Apple podcasts, and most other platforms where you listen to your pods. Thank you for watching and listening, and enjoy!
This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 4:00 AM.