Lionel Messi is in his third year with Inter Miami, and right off the bat, the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner recorded quality performances that made the signing worth it for the South Florida club on and off the pitch.
Over these three years, Messi has shown that age is nothing but a number. So, let’s look at the Argentina international’s top five performances since coming over to the MLS side from PSG and closing his chapter in European football.
Inter Miami 6-2 New York Red Bulls (May 2024)
When a team scores six goals, many would think a player would have two or three goal involvements, but in Messi’s case, he was involved in all six goals, recording one goal and five assists. Furthermore, all that production came in the second half to make the performance even more impressive.
Messi recorded an assist in the 48th minute, then two minutes later, he scored a goal for Inter Miami’s second of the contest. In the 62nd minute, the veteran added another assist, and then six minutes later, his fourth goal involvement came. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner recorded two more assists in the 75th and 81st minute to cap off an amazing performance.
Inter Miami 6-2 New England Revolution (October 2024)
Credit: Imago Images
It was another second-half performance from Messi as he ended the MLS regular season with a bang, recording his first hat-trick performance for Inter Miami in 11 minutes. The first Messi goal came in the 78th minute, then three minutes later, the Argentine recorded his brace in the 81st minute. Messi added his third for the hat-trick eight minutes after that second goal, with Luis Suarez involved in two of the three goals.
Inter Miami 3-1 Los Angeles FC (April 2025)
The second leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal saw Inter Miami overcome a 2-0 aggregate deficit with Messi leading the charge. Entering the final 90 minutes, LAFC held a 1-0 aggregate lead and then scored early in that second leg contest to double their advantage.
Nonetheless, Messi and Co. were able to overcome that challenge. The 38-year-old scored to make the aggregate score 2-1 right before halftime. In the 61st minute, Lionel Messi set up the equalizer to tie the aggregate at 2-2. Then, in the 84th minute, he calmly converted a penalty to seal Inter Miami’s comeback and secure a 3-2 aggregate victory.
Inter Miami 5-1 Columbus Crew (May 2025)
Messi was involved in four of the five Inter Miami goals scored against the Columbus Crew earlier in the 2025 season. The Argentine provided the assist on the opening goal from Tadeo Allende, and he then proceeded to score a first-half brace in less than 10 minutes, with the first goal coming in the 15th minute and the second arriving in the 24th minute. Messi added his second assist of the contest off a goal scored by Fafà Picault to cap off the impressive performance.
Inter Miami 2-1 FC Porto (June 2025)
Credit: Imago Images
At the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Inter Miami became the first MLS club to beat a European club in an official match. Porto took the early 1-0 lead, but the South Florida club would level the scoring, setting up the stage for Messi to enter the spotlight. Messi would score the eventual game-winning goal on a free-kick to give Inter Miami the lead and the eventual historic win for the club and league.
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