Lionel Messi led Inter Miami to a 3-1 victory over Nashville SC on Saturday night. He scored twice and assisted, bringing his Major League Soccer-leading total to seven goals.
Lionel Messi recorded his second two-goal match in the MLS, replicating his performance against Orlando on March 2. He has contributed a goal or an assist in each of the six league games he has participated in this season, although he missed four matches due to injury.
Sergio Busquets, Messi’s former Barcelona teammate who joined Miami last summer, scored his first goal. Luis Suárez, another former teammate from Barcelona, set up Messi’s first goal of the match. “Very happy that the goal helped the team win the match,” Busquets remarked, emphasizing the team’s victory over his achievement.
Miami (5-2-3, 21 points) has not lost in five matches against Nashville since Messi joined, maintaining their top position in the Eastern Conference. “We became very familiar with their style of play, and that helped us today,” noted Miami defender Tomás Avilés.
The match didn’t start well for Miami, as they conceded an own goal in the second minute when Miami defender Franco Neri accidentally deflected Daniel Lovitz’s corner into his net. However, Messi and Busquets responded with goals in the 11th and 39th minutes to overturn the early deficit.
After Nashville goalkeeper Elliot Panicco parried Messi’s shot, Suárez quickly redirected the ball back to Messi, who scored from close range. Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino commented on the shift in momentum, “We didn’t play good football during the first 10 minutes, but that changed after Leo’s goal. We started finding our space and creating opportunities.”
Busquets then scored off a Messi corner kick, securing the lead. Goalkeeper Drake Callender preserved this lead with a crucial save on a long-range effort from Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar in the 55th minute.
Messi later secured a two-goal cushion for Miami by converting a penalty in the 81st minute following Nashville’s Josh Bauer’s foul on Leo Alfonso.
Messi’s impact was felt despite the absence of another former Barcelona teammate, Jordi Alba, who missed the game due to a hamstring injury. Additionally, Miami player Diego Gomez suffered an ankle injury, with his condition pending further evaluation.
Miami is set to face New England next Saturday, while Nashville will host San Jose.
