Lionel Messi delivered his most explosive performance of the 2026 MLS season so far, but he narrowly missed out on a hat-trick in a frustrating twist during Inter Miami’s 5-3 away victory over FC Cincinnati.
The 89th-Minute Controversy
During the dying moments of the match at TQL Stadium on the morning of May 14, Inter Miami launched a blistering attack. In the 89th minute, Mateo Silvetti accelerated down the left flank and fired a low cross into the penalty area. Messi perfectly timed his run, sliding in to strike the ball with his right foot. The shot careened off the goalpost before bouncing into the back of the net, sealing a breathless 5-3 win for the visitors.
Initially, Major League Soccer (MLS) officially credited the strike as Messi’s third goal of the match. However, upon reviewing the replays, league officials determined that the ball had rebounded off the post and struck the back of Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano before crossing the line. As a result, the goal was officially overturned and ruled as an own goal by Celentano. This late ruling meant Messi was only credited with a brace instead of a highly anticipated hat-trick.
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A Masterclass Performance
Despite the overturned goal, the Argentine superstar remained the undisputed player of the match. Playing the full 90 minutes, the 38-year-old was at the center of everything Inter Miami created. He recorded 71 touches, unleashed 6 shots, created 4 clear chances for his teammates, and provided 1 assist to cap off a brilliant individual showing.
Staggering Career Milestones
Following this incredible performance, Messi has now reached a staggering milestone of 909 goals and 411 assists across his legendary career.
His statistics in the current 2026 MLS campaign are equally absurd. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner boasts 11 goals and 4 assists in just 11 appearances. He has been in particularly devastating form recently, directly contributing to 8 goals in his last 3 matches alone.
Messi’s sublime, skyrocketing form sends a highly positive signal to the Argentine national team. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to kick off this coming June, the defending champions will be thrilled to see their captain playing with such relentless energy and elite productivity.
