In a Major League Soccer Matchday 13 clash that ended on May 14, Inter Miami visited Cincinnati in a highly anticipated fixture. Facing a strong opponent, Inter Miami found themselves under pressure and were even overturned.
However, thanks to Lionel Messi’s outstanding individual performance, Inter Miami eventually completed a thrilling 5-3 comeback victory, winning this goal-filled battle and extending their away winning streak to five matches.
In this match, 38-year-old Argentine superstar Lionel Messi once again proved his decisive value. Although he is no longer young, his ability to make the right decisions in key moments, read the game, and finish chances remains Inter Miami’s most reliable weapon.
Across the full match, Messi directly contributed 2 goals and 1 assist, while also playing a part in all five of Inter Miami’s goals. He was undoubtedly the biggest hero behind the team’s comeback victory.
Inter Miami Took the Lead Before Being Overturned
Inter Miami opened the scoring in the 24th minute. Rodrigo De Paul delivered a through ball, and a Cincinnati defender made a mistake while attempting to clear the danger. The ball fell into a dangerous area, and Messi reacted quickly, using his body to guide it into the net, giving Inter Miami a 1-0 lead.
However, Cincinnati did not panic after conceding. In the 41st and 49th minutes, the home side took advantage of Inter Miami’s defensive weaknesses, scoring twice in quick succession to turn the score around to 2-1.
For Inter Miami, this was not unfamiliar, as their defensive instability has caused them problems several times this season after taking the lead.
Messi Stepped Up and Led the Comeback
At the crucial moment, Messi stood up once again. In the 55th minute, he received a cross from De Paul and calmly finished with a composed strike, completing his brace and bringing the score level at 2-2. Although Inter Miami conceded again in the 64th minute and fell behind 3-2, Messi refused to let the match slip away.
In the 79th minute, Messi delivered a key assist for Silvetti, who scored to make it 3-3. Then, in the 84th minute, Messi’s free-kick created chaos in the Cincinnati penalty area, causing a collision between the goalkeeper and a defender. Beltrame seized the opportunity and fired home the rebound, giving Inter Miami a 4-3 lead.
In the 89th minute, Messi once again caused danger inside the box with a sliding effort that led to another goal. Although MLS later credited the goal as an own goal, denying Messi his first hat-trick of the season, it did not diminish his dominant performance.
Full Marks, Man of the Match, and 909 Career Goals
After the final whistle, Messi received a perfect 10 rating and was unsurprisingly named Man of the Match. Although the official statistics recorded 2 goals and 1 assist for him, the match itself showed that almost all five of Inter Miami’s goals were directly connected to his influence.
After this game, Messi’s career goal tally reached 909. For Inter Miami, this victory was not only important for three points in the standings but also another reminder that, as long as Messi is on the pitch, the team always has someone capable of changing the game.
