Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi (centre) deftly scores past Cavalier’s goalkeeper Vino Barclett as Jeovanni Laing (left) looks on during the Concacaf Champions Cup second-leg round of 16 match at the National Stadium on Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Photos: Garfield Robinson)
Cavalier’s Laing, Barclett relish ‘unforgettable’ exchanges with Messi
Not many Caribbean players can say they’ve had the experience of going up against who many consider to be the greatest football player in history, Lionel Messi. However, Cavalier FC’s Jeovanni Laing and Vino Barclett have managed to go a step further by becoming part of the Argentine’s history in a unique way.
In what was one of the largest attended sporting events in the Caribbean region with well over 30,000 people, Cavalier hosted Inter Miami CF at the National Stadium last Thursday in their Concacaf Champions Cup round of 16 second leg. The defending Jamaica Premier League champions went down 2-0 on the night and 4-0 on aggregate which saw them being knocked out of the competition.
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However, there was hardly a mood of disappointment in the air as the legendary Messi took the field in the 53rd minute and wowed the fans and players alike with every touch.
While a number of players and technical staff were able to interact and grab photos with Messi, Laing got arguably the most valuable thing as he exchanged jerseys with the nine-time Ballon D’or winner.
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Since then, the Cavalier defender has gone viral worldwide with his video reaction to trying on Messi’s worn kit and complimenting his scent.
Speaking to the Jamaica Observer, Laing says it’s a moment he will never forget and hopefully, one Messi won’t either.
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“It was a great feeling, one of the best feelings so far in my career. Especially because he took my jersey, it wasn’t just me getting his jersey. To see him with my jersey walking down the tunnel, I was like wow, I was in awe. He’s one of the greatest players in the universe so it was a great feeling knowing that I have that prized possession,” he said.
Throughout Messi’s illustrious career with Barcelona, PSG, Argentina and now Inter Miami, he’s scored an incredible 854 goals against 366 different goalkeepers including against the likes of World Cup winners Iker Casillas, Gianluigi Buffon, Manuel Neuer and Hugo Lloris.
Cavalier’s shot stopper Barclett joined the prestigious list when Messi broke the offside trap and scored in stoppage time to seal the victory for Inter Miami. It may be the first time in the St Lucian’s career where he didn’t mind conceding.
“Back home, my whole country was proud of me knowing that I’m probably the first St Lucian to play against those kinds of players so everybody was proud and still excited,” he told the Observer.
“It’s still unreal to me, playing against some of the top footballers in the world. Those are the games we want to play as young footballers looking to pursue football as a career. We see the quality of the team and that’s what we want so it’s best to take the positives from those kinds of players and try to better ourselves,” Barclett added.
But as much as they’d want to relive the moment, Laing is aware that they have new objectives to achieve.
“It will forever be in my thoughts. But that’s gone, we move pass it. It was a great feeling, it was a historical moment for the players and Jamaica as a country. It’s the first time I’ve seen the National Stadium that full since I was born. It was a good experience and prepares us for the rest of the season,” he said.
Barclett is hoping that the experience will be a motivational factor for himself and the club going forward.
“I started the [Jamaica] Premier League poorly, I conceded too many goals, so my focus is getting some clean sheets on the board and keeping a strong defence because defence wins championships so that we can make it to the final,” said Barclett.
Laing also believes the team will be a greater threat in the coming weeks with only domestic duties on the board for Cavalier.
“It’s going to be easier now because all the focus will be on the league and defending our title. We’re the defending champions and we’re currently at fifth which is not acceptable for us and that’s not a part of our plans so all our focus is on the league. It’s one game at a time, of course, and we’ll see how the last round goes,” said Laing.
On Sunday, Cavalier played their first game since the Inter Miami contest when they got the better of Dunbeholden 1-0.
