Lionel Messi bagged a brilliant brace and provided an assist as Inter Miami demolished New York City FC 4-0 at Citi Field on Wednesday night, sealing their spot in the MLS Cup playoffs with a commanding display.*
The Argentine maestro’s double strike took his tally to 24 goals in 23 appearances this season, propelling him two goals clear at the summit of Major League Soccer’s scoring charts ahead of LAFC’s Denis Bouanga.
Luis Suarez marked his return from a three-match suspension for spitting at a Seattle staff member by converting from the penalty spot, whilst Baltazar Rodriguez also found the net as Miami secured their playoff berth in emphatic fashion.
The match at the rain-soaked Citi Field – home to baseball’s New York Mets – saw Inter Miami initially struggle to adapt to the converted baseball stadium’s unusual dimensions before eventually running riot.
“We knew it would be difficult playing on this surface, but the team showed great character,” Miami boss Gerardo Martino said after the victory.
Rodriguez broke the deadlock three minutes before half-time, latching onto Messi’s perfectly weighted through ball after the captain had been fed by Sergio Busquets. The 22-year-old Argentine striker raced clear before calmly slotting past NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese.
New York had dominated the opening exchanges, with Thiago Martins forcing a fine save from Inter keeper Oscar Ustari with a close-range header in the 21st minute. Aiden O’Neill’s long-range effort was blocked moments later, whilst Nicolas Fernandez rattled the right post on the half-hour mark.
Messi produced a moment of vintage brilliance to double Miami’s advantage in the 74th minute. Released by Busquets, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner surged into the penalty area, evaded one challenge before delicately chipping the ball over the advancing Freese.
“That second goal was pure class – only Messi can score goals like that,” NYCFC manager Nick Cushing admitted post-match.
Suarez added a third from twelve yards after being fouled in the box, before Messi capped off a memorable evening twelve minutes from time with a precise angled drive from the right edge of the area that nestled into the bottom corner.
The victory leaves Inter Miami sitting third in the Eastern Conference standings, five points adrift of leaders Philadelphia Union but with two games in hand. The Florida-based outfit remain in contention for the Supporters’ Shield, awarded to the team with the best regular-season record.
Messi’s stellar performance extended his remarkable run of form, with the 37-year-old now having recorded at least one goal and one assist in three consecutive matches. His consistent brilliance has made him a leading candidate for the 2025 MLS Most Valuable Player award.
“Leo continues to show why he’s the best player in the world,” Suarez said. “His leadership and quality make the difference in big moments like tonight.”
The result represents Miami’s latest statement of intent ahead of their second MLS Cup playoff campaign since Messi’s arrival in July 2023. Having fallen short in last year’s playoffs, the pink-clad outfit will be determined to deliver silverware this time around.
For NYCFC, the defeat leaves them scrambling for a playoff position with time running out in the regular season. Despite creating numerous early opportunities, their inability to convert chances ultimately proved costly against a clinical Miami side.
The match was played in challenging conditions at Citi Field, with persistent rainfall making the playing surface treacherous throughout. However, neither team used the conditions as an excuse, with both sides committed to playing attractive football.
Miami’s triumph also marked a successful return for Suarez, who had been serving a suspension following his infamous spitting incident during the Leagues Cup final defeat to Seattle Sounders. The Uruguayan striker looked sharp throughout and will be crucial to Miami’s playoff ambitions.
