Argentine superstar Lionel Messi experienced the “most crushing defeat of his Inter Miami career.”
Miami conceded twice in the first half and two more in the second. Messi did manage to pull one back with a brilliant finish, but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome. Inter Miami walked off the pitch with a heavy loss.
In their latest Major League Soccer (MLS) match, Miami were thrashed 4-1 by Minnesota United.
This marks Messi’s worst defeat since joining the American side. Previously, his heaviest losses were three separate 3-1 defeats — earlier this month in the CONCACAF Champions Cup against Vancouver, another in the same tournament against Monterrey in 2024, and once more in MLS against Atlanta United earlier this year.
This was Messi’s eighth loss in 53 matches across all competitions for Inter Miami, where he’s been playing for nearly two years.
Uruguayan star Luis Suárez missed the game due to personal reasons.
Despite dominating possession with 73%, Miami couldn’t make it count. They managed 10 shots, but only three were on target — all by Messi. Two of those were saved by the opposing goalkeeper. In contrast, Minnesota had 8 shots, with 5 on target.
Miami fell behind in the 32nd minute when Longwane received a pass inside the box and scored with a right-footed strike into the far post. In added time of the first half, U.S. defender Anthony Markanich doubled the lead with a header.
Messi responded early in the second half. Controlling a pass from Jordi Alba inside the box, the Argentine fired a left-footed shot into the far post, giving Miami hope.
After going four straight games without scoring, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has now found the net in back-to-back matches.
However, that glimmer of hope quickly faded. Between the 68th and 70th minutes, Miami conceded twice more. First, Marcelo Weigandt scored an unfortunate own goal while trying to clear a header from a corner — the ball went straight into his own net. Then Robin Lod hammered in a stunning left-footed strike from outside the box, sealing the 4-1 scoreline and putting the final nail in Miami’s coffin.
Miami had broken a three-game losing streak with a 4-1 win over the New York Red Bulls last week. But under Javier Mascherano, the team once again lost its way, falling by the same scoreline in the very next game.
Since Mascherano — Argentina’s former defensive midfielder and Messi’s longtime teammate — took over in November, Miami have lost five of 19 matches.
With 21 points from 10 games, Inter Miami currently sit fourth in the MLS Eastern Conference table. Columbus Crew lead the standings with 24 points from the same number of matches.
