 continued on Saturday night as the Argentine legend netted a brace){kind=link}
Lionel Messi’s sensational scoring streak in Major League Soccer (MLS) continued on Saturday night as the Argentine legend netted a brace for the fifth consecutive game, guiding Inter Miami to a 2-1 victory over Nashville SC.
Just days after becoming the first player in MLS history to score multiple goals in four straight league games, Messi extended his remarkable run with another match-winning performance at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
Magic Messi at It Again
Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a sublime left-footed free-kick — his trademark — that curled through a tight gap in Nashville’s wall and beat goalkeeper Joe Willis at his near post.
The goal electrified the Miami crowd and underscored the Argentine’s ever-growing influence on the club, which has surged up the Eastern Conference standings since returning from their FIFA Club World Cup campaign.
Despite Miami’s dominance in the first half, Nashville pulled level just four minutes into the second half. 2022 MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar rose to meet a cross and powered a header past Drake Callender to make it 1-1.
But Messi wasn’t finished.
In the 62nd minute, the 38-year-old pounced on a costly error from Willis, who misjudged a pass inside his own box. Messi calmly slotted home the winner — his 16th goal in 16 appearances this season, tying him with Nashville striker Sam Surridge for the league lead.
Mascherano Hails Messi’s Consistency
“There are not many words,” Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano said post-match. “It’s incredible what he keeps doing — breaking records now every three days, not even every weekend.
“He is the standard-bearer of our team. He shows us how to compete. He is the leader. It’s a blessing for me to accompany this stage of his career.”
Saturday’s clash marked Miami’s third match since returning to league action after their month-long absence for the Club World Cup, where they were knocked out in the Round of 16 by Paris Saint-Germain.
Eastern Conference Race Heats Up
With the win, Miami now sit fifth in the Eastern Conference with 38 points from 19 games — just five points behind leaders Philadelphia Union, who have played three more matches.
Philadelphia climbed to the summit with a 2-0 win over the New York Red Bulls, thanks to goals from Indiana Vassilev and Bruno Damiani. Cincinnati, who previously led the East, dropped to second after a 4-2 defeat to Columbus Crew.
Nashville and Columbus both trail closely with 41 points each, while the playoff race tightens.
Busy Weeks Ahead for Inter Miami
Inter Miami’s packed schedule continues with a high-stakes encounter against FC Cincinnati on Wednesday, followed by a weekend showdown with the New York Red Bulls. With fatigue becoming a concern, Mascherano hinted that squad rotation — including rest for Messi — may be necessary.
“At some point we are going to have to find a space to give him some rest,” Mascherano admitted. “We’ll take it day by day. He is feeling good, and when the time is right, we’ll make that decision.”
For now, Messi remains the heartbeat of a rejuvenated Miami side pushing hard for top spot — and making history along the way.