Lionel Messi scored twice and provided an assist as Inter Miami cruised past New York City FC 4-0 on Wednesday to secure a Major League Soccer playoff berth.
The Argentine forward’s brace took him to 24 goals in 23 matches, two clear of LAFC’s Denis Bouanga at the top of the MLS scoring chart.
Luis Suárez, returning from a three-game suspension for spitting at a Seattle staff member during the Leagues Cup final, converted a penalty, while Baltazar Rodriguez also found the net for Miami.
Messi’s first strike came in the 74th minute with a vintage finish after a through ball from Sergio Busquets. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner skipped past a defender and delicately chipped goalkeeper Matt Freese to double Miami’s lead. He later sealed the win in the 86th minute with a precise angled shot into the bottom corner.
Rodriguez had opened the scoring in the 43rd minute, latching onto Messi’s pass before slotting home confidently. Until then, NYCFC had dominated, with Thiago Martins, Aiden O’Neill, and Nicolas Fernandez all going close.
Despite being under pressure early at the rain-soaked Citi Field home of Major League Baseball’s New York Mets Miami’s clinical finishing proved decisive.
The result leaves Miami third in the Eastern Conference, five points behind leaders Philadelphia with two games in hand, keeping them in contention for the Supporters’ Shield.
Messi, who is set for his second MLS Cup playoff campaign, has now scored or assisted in three consecutive matches and has emerged as a leading candidate for the 2025 MVP award.
