Lionel Messi has some excessive expectations for Inter Miami for 2026. He’ll purpose to steer the Herons to consecutive MLS Cup titles throughout a season through which they will be enjoying at their new Miami Freedom Park stadium.
The larger story for La Pulga could also be if Messi may captain Argentina to back-to-back FIFA World Cup titles this summer time, when the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off throughout North America.
All season, we’ll be monitoring Messi’s game-by-game performances, because the GOAT appears to be like to have one other epic season.
Here is the most recent:
Could 2: Messi Scores, However Inter Miami Blows 3-0 Lead
Inter Miami CF vs Orlando Metropolis SC Highlights ⚽️ FOX Soccer
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami had a 3-0 lead over rival Orlando Metropolis, wanting poised to lastly get what can be a historic first win contained in the workforce’s new stadium.
Historical past was certainly made — by Orlando Metropolis, that’s.
Martin Ojeda scored three targets, Tyrese Spicer had the go-ahead objective within the third minute of stoppage time and Orlando Metropolis surprised Inter Miami 4-3 on Saturday night time — turning into simply the third workforce in MLS historical past to rally from a 3-0 deficit and get a victory.
Messi had a objective and two assists in his one hundredth look for the membership, and one way or the other that wasn’t sufficient towards a workforce that got here into the night time close to the underside of the MLS standings. Inter Miami fell to 0-1-3 at its new stadium, and the defending champions are considered one of solely three groups in MLS winless at residence up to now this season.
April 25: Messi, Inter Miami Nonetheless Looking for 1st win at new stadium
Lionel Messi & Inter Miami CF vs. New England Revolution Highlights ⚽️ FOX Soccer
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are nonetheless ready for his or her first win of their new residence.
Germán Berterame scored off a rebound within the 76th minute and Inter Miami completed in a 1-1 tie with the New England Revolution on Saturday night time, holding the defending MLS Cup champions winless in three matches at their new Miami stadium.
The Herons are 0-0-3 within the new constructing — in contrast with 5-1-1 in MLS highway matches this season. Inter Miami is now unbeaten (5-0-4) in its final 9 MLS matches following a season-opening loss at LAFC, and unbeaten in its final 11 matches (5-0-6) throughout all competitions.
Former MLS MVP Carles Gil scored within the 56th minute for New England, which had misplaced every of its final 4 conferences with Inter Miami.
April 22: Messi held scoreless in win over Actual Salt Lake
After netting a brace towards the Colorado Rapids final week, Messi could not discover the again of the web, however his pals managed to maintain Miami close to the highest of MLS’ Jap Convention.
Messi made an try at objective within the first half, when his one-on-one alternative towards RSL keeper Rafael Cabral was saved. Messi had one final likelihood to attain within the 89th minute, however his free kick was additionally saved by Cabral.
Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suárez scored inside a minute of one another late within the second half to safe the victory for Inter Miami.
April 18: Lionel Messi scores twice in win towards Colorado Rapids
Messi had two targets in Inter Miami’s 3-2 win over the Rapids on Saturday to increase the workforce’s unbeaten streak to seven video games. Messi, who opened the scoring when he transformed a penalty kick within the thirteenth minute, scored the go-ahead objective within the 79th minute. After a Colorado turnover close to midfield, Messi reduce close to the best nook of the penalty field and flicked a rising shot that break up a pair of defenders and slipped contained in the again submit.
Messi has seven targets this season, tied with Sam Surridge and Petar Musa for essentially the most in MLS. Miami (4-1-3) hasn’t misplaced since a season-opening 3-0 defeat to Los Angeles FC.
April 11: Messi held scoreless in win towards New York Pink Bulls
Within the second match performed at Inter Miami’s new stadium, Nu Stadium, the defending MLS Cup champions settled for his or her second attract a row, this time towards the Pink Bulls, on Saturday night time.
Within the fifty fifth minute, Messi drew 4 defenders towards him and helped arrange Germán Berterame for a second-half objective that gave Inter Miami its first lead. Messi had a pair golden probabilities, too. He had a stellar run however then slipped on his try as his shot was deflected out of bounds. Within the 94th minute, Messi virtually discovered the again of the web, however his free kick was finally deflected by New York goalkeeper Ethan Horvath.
Lionel Messi & Inter Miami CF vs. Pink Bull New York Highlights ⚽ FOX Soccer
April 5: ‘Nu’ Period underway as Messi nets objective in Inter Miami’s new stadium
Messi scored on the long-awaited opening night time in his new residence stadium, and Luis Suárez discovered a method to tie issues up late within the second half. Messi scored on a header within the tenth minute, Suarez hammered residence a volley within the 82nd minute and Inter Miami escaped with a 2-2 tie towards Austin FC within the defending MLS champions’ first match at their still-under-construction stadium close to Miami Worldwide Airport on Saturday night time.
Lionel Messi & Inter Miami CF vs. Austin FC Highlights ⚽ FOX Soccer
Named “Nu Stadium”, the venue already has a stand named for Messi — a uncommon honor for an energetic participant to have already got a piece of the stadium devoted to him.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber was on the match, lauding the work that David Beckham, who picked Miami 13 years in the past, did to get to at the present time.
Inter Miami, which is in its seventh MLS season and third with Messi, has performed residence matches in Fort Lauderdale till now. Beckham had one other legend in attendance with him as Brazil nice Ronaldo joined the festivities.
Garber touted the stadium opening as the most recent signal of progress for MLS.
“I believe our greatest days are nonetheless forward,” he stated. “David shined a lightweight on our league, and Leo’s taking that torch, and he’s exhibiting it round. And we’re getting calls from gamers around the globe.”
March 31: Messi scores in maybe final Argentina residence match?
It did not take lengthy for Messi to get on the scoresheet in Argentina’s 5-0 victory over Zambia on the historic Bombonera in Buenos Aires. Messi assisted Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez with an early strike within the fourth minute in what may very well be the GOAT’s last residence match for his residence nation.
He wasn’t finished but, as Messi would double La Albiceleste’s lead himself earlier than the break.
Messi had a chance to finish a hat-trick when Argentina was awarded a penalty early within the second half. As a substitute of stepping up and taking the penalty himself, he handed the ball to veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi, permitting him a scoring alternative in his last residence recreation. Otamendi introduced that he’ll retire the nationwide workforce following the summer time’s World Cup.
March 27: Messi comes on in second half, held scoreless vs. Mauritania
Messi was again in motion with Argentina for the FIFA worldwide break. It was the ultimate time the workforce would play collectively earlier than the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins later in the summertime. In fact, reigning champions Messi and Argentina are anticipated to be among the many heavy favorites to win all of it. Earlier than that occurs, a few friendlies in Buenos Aires towards two groups from Africa.
Messi began on the bench throughout Argentina’s 2-1 victory over Mauritania and did not handle to attain within the last 45 minutes. Argentina’s targets got here from Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Paz, however Messi was the one receiving infinite cheers from followers in one of many nation’s most historic venues, La Bombonera.
March 22: Messi scores key objective in win towards NYCFC
Inter Miami took residence the win towards NYCFC on Sunday, with Messi scoring the equalizer. On the 61-minute mark, Messi acquired a free kick, after what most followers believed was a “comfortable name.” He efficiently transformed on this alternative, tying the sport and placing the Herons again in rivalry for a win that night time.
The primary objective of the night time got here from Gonzalo Lujan, with this additionally being his first profession objective. The sport was then iced within the 74th minute by Micael after a set-up by Messi’s nook kick.
Lionel Messi & Inter Miami vs. New York FC Highlights ⚽️ FOX Soccer
March 18: 900 profession targets, however eradicated from CONCACAF Champions Cup
What a milestone for the famous person, who has now reached the 900-goal mark in his illustrious membership profession that has spanned Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami, in addition to his worldwide responsibility with Argentina.
Messi scored the objective in Wednesday’s Champions Cup match towards Nashville SC, taking a go in the course of the field within the seventh minute, managed the ball, spun and lined a low shot by means of a maze of defenders and into the far nook of the web. Regardless of the historic objective, Nashville tied Inter Miami 1-1, advancing to the match quarterfinals on an away-goal tiebreaker. The groups performed to a 0-0 tie in Nashville final week within the opening leg of the Spherical of 16.
Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi scores his 900TH CAREER GOAL vs. Nashville SC
Messi is second on the all-time objective scoring record behind Cristiano Ronaldo (965), with these two the one ones who’re in that stratosphere. Formally, the duo are adopted by Romário (765), Pelé (762) and Ference Puskás (725). The subsequent-highest energetic participant is Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski (690). There’s some controversy about Pelé’s depend. Completely different sources, counting completely different units of video games, record the Brazilian icon’s objective totals wherever from round 650 in league matches to someplace close to 1,300 in all matches — some towards low-level competitors.
March 14: Messi sits out Inter Miami draw vs. Nashville SC
Messi was rested for this recreation, as coach Javier Mascherano selected to avoid wasting his power for the second CONCACAF Champions Cup leg towards Nashville SC. In his place, Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez acquired his first begin of the MLS season. Although Saturday resulted in a scoreless draw, the sport itself stayed spirited. In a heated change, Mascherano acquired a pink card in stoppage time. As he protested the reserving, he was despatched off for foul and offensive language. Ever a full of life persona, he sarcastically clapped on the crowd.
March 11: Messi caught at 899 targets after one other draw
Inter Miami and Messi confronted off towards Nashville SC within the Herons’ first recreation of the CONCACAF Champions Cup of the season. The Spherical of 16 resulted in a scoreless draw, with Messi staying silent on the statsheet. He tried one shot within the fifty fifth minute, however 24-year-old Nashville goalkeeper Brian Schwake got here up with the save.
March 7: Messi scores in win over D.C. United after White Home go to
Messi scored within the twenty seventh minute, and Inter Miami held on for a 2-1 victory over D.C. United on Saturday night time in entrance of 72,026 on the residence of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens. The sport was held in downtown Baltimore as a substitute of at D.C. United’s smaller venue in Washington. It is the second recreation this season the place Inter Miami’s opponents held the match at a bigger stadium. LAFC did so in February by altering the sport to the L.A. Memorial Coliseum.
It was an eventful week for Messi and his workforce, which visited the White Home on Thursday. Inter Miami opened the scoring within the seventeenth minute when De Paul collected the ball about 15 yards from the objective and struck a shot into the far facet of the web. Messi then scored his third objective of the younger MLS season, slipping behind the D.C. protection to obtain Mateo Silvetti’s go, then flicking the ball with one contact previous goalie Sean Johnson.
Lionel Messi & Inter Miami vs. D.C. United ⚽ FOX SOCCER
March 1: Messi scores twice in comeback win over rival Orlando Metropolis
Nothing like scoring twice towards your in-state rivals. Particularly after being initially down by two. Messi had two second-half targets and an help in Inter Miami’s 4-2 win over Orlando Metropolis. It was his first two targets of the 2026 MLS season and the Herons’ first win. It was a part of a four-goal rally by Inter Miami within the second half, which additionally included targets by Mateo Silvetti and Telasco Segovia (who additionally had two assists). Marco Pasalic and Martín Ojedahad initially gave the Lions the lead earlier than Messi and Miami got here out with a full head of steam after halftime. Messi’s second was a selected magnificence because it got here off a free kick within the last moments of the sport in Orlando.
Messi, ever the grasp at gamesmanship, determined to troll the Orlando devoted by mockingly giving them an autograph.
Feb. 26: Messi knocked over by pitch invader in Puerto Rico
A curiously timed match between Inter Miami and Ecuadorian membership Independiente Del Valle at Puerto Rico’s Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel noticed Messi convert a penalty and later tackled by an overzealous pitch invader. The sport in Bayamón was alleged to be performed in Inter Miami’s preseason on Feb. 13 however was moved again as a result of Messi’s hamstring damage. Inter Miami honored the rescheduled match after having already performed its MLS season opener.
Messi entered at halftime and was cheered loudly anytime he touched the ball. His penalty got here within the seventieth minute, which sealed the 2-1 victory within the unofficial match. As the sport got here to a wrap, a pitch invader received snarled with Messi and a safety guard, taking the famous person to the bottom. He gave the impression to be high-quality as he received up and walked away.
Feb. 21: Messi held scoreless in MLS opener
Inter Miami started its season with a 3-0 loss on the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum towards Son Heung-min and LAFC in entrance of an introduced crowd of 75,672 — the second-highest recreation attendance in MLS historical past and highest for a season-opening recreation ever.
After the sport, a video posted on social media confirmed Messi following the referees by means of the tunnel and right into a locker room. A visibly offended Messi gave the impression to be held again by teammate Luis Suárez with the 2 then exiting the world. The league stated that Messi didn’t violate any coverage and that he wouldn’t face any suspension.
LAFC vs. Inter Miami Highlights | FOX Soccer
The Related Press contributed to this report.
