Messi makes goalkeeper helpless!
The Argentina superstar delivered one of his best performances of the season, scoring two goals and providing two assists as his team dismantled the 2024 MLS Cup finalists at their home ground. The hosts started off strongly, with Alexander Hack putting them in the lead during the 14th minute. However, the star-studded Inter Miami was quick to respond, with Jordi Alba levelling the scores in the 24th minute thanks to a Messi assist, according to Goal. Messi’s brilliance made the custodian helpless It was Messi’s sixth multi-goal game in his last seven matches. Messi became the fifth player in MLS history to record at least 35 goals and 25 assists over a two-year span, joining Robbie Keane (2013-14), Sebastian Giovinco (2015-16), Carlos Vela (2018-19), and Cucho Hernandez (2023-24). Miami scored two goals in three minutes midway through the first half to take the lead. Messi’s beautiful pass to Jordi Alba tied it at 1-all in the 24th minute. Then Messi’s lofted pass over the defense led to Segovia’s first goal. Messi scored on a breakaway in the 60th and he chested down Luis Suarez’s pass for a left-footed blast in the 75th for his 18th goal of the season. Miami (12-4-5) has dominated the past three matchups with the Red Bulls, winning 6-2 on May 3, 2024 and 4-1 on May 3, 2025. New York (9-9-6) lost for just the second time at home this season, dropping to 8-2-2. The Red Bulls’ 26 points through their first 11 home matches this season had ranked second in franchise history. As per ESPN, Messi’s goal tally during the ongoing MLS season has increased to 18, and he has contributed to 27 goals. He has scored 40 goals for the American club since joining the team back in summer 2023.
Messi’s brace and excellent assists guide Inter Miami to trounce New York Red Bulls 5-1 in Major League Soccer
Lionel Messi struck twice and gave two excellent assists to help Inter Miami to a bounce-back 5-1 victory over the host New York Bulls on Saturday night in Harrison, New Jersey. Messi and Inter Miami (12-4-5, 41 points) erased a 1-0 first-half deficit with a flurry of goals late in the first half — two of them coming off the foot of Telasco Segovia — that staked the Herons to a 3-1 half-time lead. Miami won its sixth MLS match in its past seven after having a five-game winning streak snapped at Cincinnati on Wednesday. The Red Bulls (9-9-6, 33 points) failed to string together consecutive wins at home and lost to Inter Miami for the second time this season. New York scored its lone goal in the 15th minute when Emil Forsberg lifted a corner kick in front of Miami goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo’s line of sight. Alexander Hack then kicked it home for the score despite having defender Federico Redondo draped all over him. Rios Novo made his second start this season for Oscar Ustari, who sat out with an injury. Jordi Alba, who exited the game in the 84th minute with what appeared to be a leg cramp, scored his first goal of the season in MLS league play off a cross from Messi in the 24th minute to tie the game1-1.
Messi’s brace helps Inter secure victory and the record of consecutive 15-match winning streak!
Lionel Messi extended his record scoring streak in Major League Soccer with two more goals in a 2-1 victory for host Inter Miami over Nashville SC on Saturday night in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Messi’s brace helped Inter Miami (11-3-5, 38 points) snap a club-record of unbeaten streak of 15 matches across all competitions for Nashville (12-5-5, 41 points), which lost for the first time since April 19 at Seattle. Messi scored two or more goals for the fifth consecutive time in an MLS match — a league record. Inter Miami improved to 4-0-1 in its last five matches with Nashville while also winning its fifth consecutive MLS match overall. Miami has won three in a row since Paris Saint.-Germain eliminated it in the round of 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup on June 29. Messi capitalised on a major mistake by Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis to score the eventual decisive goal in the 62nd minute on Saturday. Willis chested a ball and tried to clear it out of his zone, but kicked it right in Messi’s direction. Messi intercepted it with his left foot, then worked the ball around Willis and fired it home to put Miami ahead for good. The goal came 13 minutes after Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar tied the game at 1 with a perfectly timed header off a pinpoint cross from distance by Andy Najar. It was Mukhtar’s 10th goal of the season. Patrick Yazbek also had an assist. Messi’s first goal came in the 17th minute on another spectacular free-kick goal. Messi fired a ball precisely through a gap in the wall set up by Nashville’s defenders, and it found the mark just out of the reach of a diving Willis. Messi’s 16 goals are tied for the most in the league with Nashville’s Sam Surridge, who was kept off the scoresheet on Saturday. Messi has 23 goal contributions in MLS games this season and has 22 goals across all competitions.
Multiple media reports: De Bruyne may join Chicago Fire
Kevin De Bruyne a 10-year standout in the Premier League, may take a route similar to that of Lionel Messi leaving European club football for that in the United States. According to multiple media reports, the Belgium midfielder might join Major League Soccer (MLS) side Chicago Fire. The 33-year-old contributed 189 goals in 10 seasons with four-time defending champion City. De Bruyne recently announced that he will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of this season. The struggling Fire holds top priority in signing De Bruyne. D.C. United and NYCFC were the other two teams that inquired about the midfielder. Kevin De Bruyne, a 10-year standout in the Premier League, may take a route similar to that of Lionel Messi leaving European club football for that in the United States. According to multiple media reports, the Belgium midfielder might join (MLS) side Chicago Fire. The 33-year-old contributed 189 goals in 10 seasons with four-time defending champion City. De Bruyne recently announced that he will leave after his contract expires at the end of this season. The struggling Fire holds top priority in signing De Bruyne. D.C. United and NYCFC were the other two teams that inquired about the midfielder. Inter Miami CF previously negotiated with De Bruyne, but its three Designated Player slots — players who will be paid outside the maximum salary limit — are now filled, including one by Lionel Messi. The Belgium captain favors heading to the MLS over signing a deal to play in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, he did not rule out returning to the Premier League or competing in Europe as his next venture. “I’m open for anything, anything, just because I have to look at the whole picture,” De Bruyne said. “I’m looking at sporting, family, everything together, what makes the most sense for me and my family. I don’t know what that is, because it depends on when you speak to people and what they say about projects or something, like I said, I still feel like I can play at a good level, but then after I’ll have to decide once I know a little bit more.” Through 10 matches, Fire is 3-3-4 with 12 points and sits in 11th place in the Eastern Conference under former U.S. national team coach Gregg Berhalter.
