Lionel Messi Shines as Inter Miami Crush New York City to Secure Playoff Spot
Inter Miami stormed into the MLS playoffs with a resounding 4- 0 palm over New York City FC, and once again it was Lionel Messi who stole the limelight.
The Argentine maestro scored twice and set up another, driving Miami to a statement palm that underlines their crown intentions.
The night belonged to Messi. His first half helped etch his name deeper into Major League Soccer history, making him the first player to notch 35 thing benefactions in back- to-aft seasons. also came the pretensions.
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) September 25, 2025
Two of them, crisp and clinical, delivered with trademark faculty. Those strikes also earned him another place in the record books as he came just the fourth player in league history to record eight multi-goal games in a single season.
Inter Miami, who now boast a league-leading 64 goals this campaign, look unstoppable. Wednesday’s triumph marked their third straight win and continued a thrilling scoring run; five of their last six matches have produced three or more goals. The playoff message? Loud and clear.
The advance arrived in the 74th nanosecond when Messi, spotting New York goalkeeper Matt Freese off his line, executed a delicate chip that floated into the net.
Moments later, Luis Suárez, back from suspense, coolly slotted home a penalty in the 83rd nanosecond. Three minutes after that, Messi struck again, sealing the rout and sending DRV PNK Stadium into rapture.
Goalkeeper Óscar Ustari ensured the clean sheet, his sixth of the season, with a series of sharp saves. Miami’s backline, often criticised earlier in the year, looked organised and ruthless.
New York City, which came into the clash riding a three-game winning streak, simply had no answer. They threatened briefly in the first half.
Thiago Martins’ header was safely gathered by Ustari, while Nicolás Fernández went close after wrong-footing the keeper, but the finishing touch deserted them.
Meanwhile, Miami’s form without Messi has also impressed; they beat Pumas 3-1 in a recent outing, showing their depth and resilience.
Inter Miami’s momentum is peaking at just the right time. With Messi orchestrating attacks and Suárez rediscovering his rhythm, the South Florida side now heads into the playoffs as one of the most feared outfits in MLS.
For Miami fans, the dream is alive. For the league, Inter Miami is here to win, and Messi is rewriting history one goal at a time.
