Amid the transfer deadline and Inter Miami CF's undefeated start to the 2025 MLS season, attention has shifted to the CONCACAF Champions Cup, where Inter Miami is facing Vancouver Whitecaps on Thursday night in the first leg of the semifinals.

The Herons will look to captain Lionel Messi to lead the team toward what would be its third major trophy. IMCF won the 2023 Leagues Cup shortly after Messi's arrival to the United States, and followed it with the 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield for finishing first in the regular season last year.

Messi has eight goals and three assists in 12 matches across all competitions for Inter Miami this season, but was held without a goal contribution in the last two MLS matches.

Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) celebrates after scoring against the Philadelphia Union during the second half at Chase Stadium.

When Messi looks to recapture his terrific form on Thursday night, he will do so in a pair of boots that few fans have seen before.

"Stay calm," he said in an Instagram post on Wednesday. "Let the ball dance."

He highlighted the recent release of his newest Adidas Messi F50 cleats, the "la vida tropical" colorway that represents Miami's iconic pastel palette.

The post included new close-up images of the details of the blue and pink cleats. The Argentinian superstar first wore them in Inter Miami's 1-0 win against Columbus Crew on Saturday.

Since that game was behind a paywall on Apple TV's MLS Season Pass, Thursday night's cup match televised nationally on FS1 will be the first time many fans get to see the cleats in action.

The big announcement called the cleats "just what you need." Messi will hope that manifests on the field because calm, tropical vibes will be the furthest thing from the atmosphere at BC Place in Vancouver in the first leg Thursday night.