Messi Puts Miami in the Fight

Inter Miami sealed their spot in the MLS playoffs with a commanding 4-0 win over New York City FC, in which Lionel Messi was the undisputed star. The Argentine scored twice and provided an assist, delivering a brilliant performance that reignites hopes of finally winning the title that has eluded the club since his arrival.

Javier Mascherano’s side found the breakthrough just before halftime thanks to a goal from Baltasar Rodríguez, set up by a moment of genius from Messi. In the second half, the captain took full control: first chipping the keeper after a perfectly timed pass from Sergio Busquets, a move reminiscent of their Barcelona days, and later sealing the rout with a piece of individual brilliance.

Old Partners, New Glory

The night also highlighted the chemistry between Messi and his former Barça teammates. Busquets once again assisted the Argentine with a world-class through ball, while Luis Suárez added the third from the penalty spot. It was a nostalgic yet effective performance that strengthened Miami’s case as contenders in this final stretch.

With five goals in his last three matches, Messi now leads the MLS scoring charts with 24 goals and also ranks third in assists with 13 — further proof of his total influence on the Florida project.

The Mission: Conquer MLS

With playoff qualification secured, Inter Miami are now fully focused on the ultimate goal: the MLS Cup, which begins on October 22 and concludes on December 6. The team sits third in the Eastern Conference, just five points behind leaders Philadelphia Union, and still has two games in hand.

The dream is alive. Messi is in decisive form, and the feeling is clear: this time, Inter Miami have what it takes to chase glory.