Super Sub Messi Returns to Rescue Miami with Late Brilliance
Lionel Messi returned from injury in style, scoring a solo stunner and setting up Luis Suárez in Inter Miami’s 3-1 comeback win over the LA Galaxy. The match at Chase Stadium saw Miami overturn a second-half deadlock with two late moments of brilliance from their captain.
Messi had missed the previous two matches due to a right leg muscle injury. He entered at halftime and turned the game in its final stretch. With the score tied 1-1 and just 10 minutes remaining, he delivered two decisive plays.
Messi Strikes Late, Then Sets Up Suárez
In the 84th minute, Messi collected the ball near midfield, dribbled past a defender, and sent a precise low strike into the corner. The goal gave Miami a 2-1 lead and sent fans into celebration.
Minutes later, he turned creator. A heel-flicked pass from Messi released Luis Suárez, who finished coolly for the third goal. The assist followed a pass from Rodrigo De Paul and reflected the chemistry of the Barcelona-era trio.
Still Not Fully Fit, But Still Unstoppable
Messi was seen occasionally clutching his hamstring during the second half. Coach Javier Mascherano acknowledged post-match that Messi was still not 100%, in comments carried by MLSSoccer.com:
“He’s an extraordinary player. I also saw that he clearly wasn’t 100% comfortable, but as the minutes went by, he started to loosen up a little more.”
Despite playing limited minutes, Messi became the first MLS player this season to reach 30 goal contributions (19 goals, 11 assists). He also moved into the lead for the Golden Boot. Remarkably, he’d scored in four straight appearances off the bench.
Barcelona Legends Lead the Way Again
All three Inter Miami goals came from ex-Barcelona players. Jordi Alba opened the scoring in the 43rd minute after a perfect assist from Sergio Busquets. LA Galaxy equalized through Joseph Paintsil in the 59th minute, but Messi and Suárez took over late.
The win came after Miami’s 4-1 defeat to Orlando without Messi. This result was a crucial boost to their playoff and Supporters’ Shield ambitions.
“Vital,” said Mascherano. “If we want to compete until the end, we know the closer we get to the end of the season, the more vital details become.”
Galaxy’s Struggles Continue
The LA Galaxy remained at the bottom of the Western Conference. Despite a solid spell that saw them draw level, they couldn’t stop Messi’s late surge.
What happened next
This late-season surge turned out to be the start of something historic. Messi finished the 2025 regular season with the MLS Golden Boot (29 goals, 19 assists in 28 games) and the league MVP award, then added 13 more goal contributions in the playoffs as Inter Miami won the MLS Cup with a 3-1 final win over the Vancouver Whitecaps. His combined 61 goal contributions for the year broke the all-time MLS single-season record, previously held by LAFC’s Carlos Vela.
