Sports
Lionel Messi sets another record after powering Inter Miami into the Eastern Conference final
Lionel Messi continued to blaze a trail through the MLS playoffs, helping Inter Miami ease past FC Cincinnati and into the Eastern Conference final on Sunday night.
Messi scored the opener and set up three more as Miami won 4-0 at TQL Stadium. They will face New York City FC next Saturday in Fort Lauderdale for the right to advance to the MLS final.
Argentina captain Messi opened the scoring after 19 minutes, heading in Mateo Silvetti’s left-wing cross and he then played in compatriot Silvetti to make it 2-0 12 minutes into the second half.
Tadeo Allende ended the hosts’ challenge with a third shortly after the hour mark and then added another with 16 minutes to go, with both goals assisted by the irrepressible Messi.
“Weekend after weekend, he is incredible,” Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano said of Messi. We know how incredible he is with a ball, but he’s the first man to do the pressure, directing the team.
“It’s a privilege to coach Leo … He’s leading the team in defense, pressing high, so when the teammates see Leo in this way, it’s impossible [not to] follow him. It’s unbelievable.”
Mascherano praises sub Suarez
Luis Suarez came on for the final 14 minutes having been left on the bench with Mascherano preferring to continue with Silvetti in attack and the veteran Uruguay striker earned the praise of his boss after the game.
“I don’t like to single out individual players, especially on a night like this where I think ultimately the team is the one that comes out stronger, the team as a whole, and when I talk about the team, I’m talking about all the players, not just the 11 who started,” Mascherano said.
“Clearly, for me, it’s not an easy decision when you have to take off a player like Luis, with his track record, with the importance he has for the team and the club. But I also have to say that it’s admirable how he handled the decision because we talked about it during the week, he understood, he helped his teammates, he trained in the best way, he was always supportive.
“He has shown the greatness he possesses as a player and as a person because we know that many times when you have to make these decisions, it can be difficult for the other person to understand, and the truth is that he has been a clear example of his commitment to what he wants for the team, for the group, and he has sent a great message to his teammates above all.”
Record-breaking night for Messi
Messi now has 12 goal involvements in the 2025 playoffs, six goals and six assists – beating the record for a single season, set by Ante Razov, who had 10 in 1999 – and on this kind of form it will be hard for anyone to stop Miami.
Co-owner Jorge Mas said: “What they did today is what we expect. They took care of business.
”Tough to always go away. Cincinnati is a great team. Our team is peaking at the right time. I think if you look at, know how we performed against Nashville, our performance tonight, you know the fact that we have probably our best 11 out there with no injuries. They’ve had the ability to train, so we’re peaking at the right time.”
