Lionel Messi maintained his bountiful spell of form for Major League Soccer, scoring a breathtaking brace and leaving the New York Red Bulls goalkeeper earthed as Inter Miami came back strongly in the Eastern Conference.
Back in top gear following his return from the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Messi has been unstoppable. The Argentine icon was at the heart of Inter Miami’s dominant 5–1 victory, showcasing his brilliance once again with two unforgettable goals.
Fresh from a discouraging 3–0 defeat to FC Cincinnati just the day before, the Herons were hungry for a statement outing. But things did not start well as the Red Bulls took the lead in the 14th minute. But all that changed once Messi started to make an impact.
The equalizer arrived in the 24th minute, as Messi created a piece of magic to tee up long-time partner Jordi Alba, who leveled the score from close range. Relishing the opportunity to prove himself on the scoresheet after coming agonizingly close with previous opportunities, Messi unleashed the magic in the second half.
In the 60th minute, Sergio Busquets threaded an inch-perfect ball into Messi’s path, giving him acres of space to attack. Bearing down on goal, Messi coolly feinted a shot, sending Red Bulls keeper Carlos Coronel to the turf, before slotting in a composed finish to make it 4–1.
In fifteen minutes, Inter Miami added a second on the scorching counter. A deep ball picked out Benjamin Cremaschi, and he passed it wide to Luis Suárez. The Uruguayan delivered a pinpoint cross to Messi within the box, where he chested it down and scored his second of the night past a hapless Coronel.
With that brace, Messi extended his remarkable streak—becoming the first player in MLS history to record five consecutive games with at least two goals. His red-hot form has been crucial to Inter Miami’s title chase and has catapulted him to the top of the league’s scoring chart.
Messi now leads MLS with 18 goals this season, scoring 12 of them in just his last seven outings. He’s trailed by Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge with 17 goals, while Cincinnati’s Evander—who scored twice against Miami earlier in the week—sits third with 15.
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