Lionel Messi was simply unstoppable as Inter Miami produced a dominant 5–1 turnaround against New York Red Bulls at Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison. Despite falling behind to Alexander Hack’s early goal in the 15th minute, Miami roared back before the break with Jordi Alba (24′) and Telasco Segovia (27′), then Segovia again in stoppage time (45+3′), overturning the deficit to lead 3–1
The second half belonged to Messi. He opened his account in the 60th minute with a slick solo effort—bamboozling the Red Bulls keeper—and doubled down in the 75th after a pinpoint assist from Luis Suárez
In total, the glittering Argentine notched two goals and two assists, sealing his sixth brace in seven outings and confirming Miami’s status as a late-season force in MLS
Inter Miami’s win saw them climb to fifth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 12–5–4 (41 points), while New York remain 9–9–6 (33 points), holding onto the final playoff spot
Coach Javier Mascherano reflected on the squad’s resilience, noting that the team had endured five matches in two weeks, with just one win, but rebounded impressively despite fatigue
Red Bulls coach Sandro Schwarz had reason to gripe: Messi’s second goal raised offside claims, with Schwarz lamenting the lack of broader discussion on the contentious call
Miami supporters answered en masse, the stadium echoing chants of “Messi!” as their footballing hero delivered a masterclass. With his haul, Messi has now notched 18 league goals this season (alongside 27 goal contributions) and 40 goals in MLS since his 2023 debut
In typical Miami style—with Messi leading the charge—the team responded to their defeat against Cincinnati with aplomb. The emphatic victory not only keeps their momentum rolling but also bolsters their playoff credentials, with the Argentine maestro at the heart of their charge
