Lionel Messi netted two goals and provided two assists on Saturday night in Harrison, New Jersey, leading Inter Miami CF to a decisive 5-1 win against the New York Red Bulls.
After falling behind 1-0 in the first half, Messi and Inter Miami (12-4-5, 41 points) surged ahead with three goals before halftime, turning the game around.
This victory marked Miami’s sixth win in their last seven matches, having previously secured five in a row against Cincinnati on Wednesday. Notably, Messi has scored two goals in six of the last seven games.
“We’ve played five games in two weeks, four of which were away. It’s a challenging stretch, especially with limited rest and travel,” said the coach. “The match against Cincinnati showed the fatigue the team is experiencing, but with a longer week ahead, we hope to give some players rest and bring back those who are injured.”
The Red Bulls (9-9-6, 33 points) couldn’t manage back-to-back home wins and fell to Inter Miami for the second time this season. Currently, they sit fifth in the Eastern Conference, trailing Philadelphia by six points but with three games in hand due to their participation in the Club World Cup this summer.
New York’s only goal came in the 15th minute when Emil Forsberg executed a corner kick that Alexander Huck converted into a score even with defender Federico Redondo closely marking him.
Rocco Rios Novo started his second match of the season in place of the injured Oscar Ustali.
In the 84th minute, Jordi Alba scored his first goal of the season, equalizing with a strike set up by Messi in the 24th minute, making it 1-1.
Inter Miami took the lead shortly afterward when Luis Suarez, who assisted the first goal, passed to Messi, who then assisted Alba, setting up Segovia for a straightforward goal.
Just before halftime, Redondo advanced toward the Red Bulls’ box but couldn’t get a shot off before Segovia fired in a rebound, scoring the third goal for Miami.
Messi added goals in the 60th and 75th minutes, delighting Miami fans even in an away game.
“I spent eight years with him at Barca and watched him with Argentina since he was 15. The way people react to Messi is incredible,” Mascherano remarked. “Beyond his football talent, his athleticism makes him iconic—people like Leo, Michael Jordan, and Rafa Nadal transcend their sports. We’re privileged to witness this.”
Messi has now achieved a total of 18 goals in MLS this season, contributing to a remarkable 40 goals since joining the league in summer 2023.
Though the Red Bulls recorded nine shots in total, they were outmatched in accurate shots, 8-1.
This report utilized information from field-level media.
Fan Take: This win demonstrates Messi’s profound impact on MLS, not just through his scoring but also by rejuvenating fan interest in soccer across the U.S. His performances may inspire the next generation of players and elevate the overall profile of the league.
