A Stellar Night in New York
Lionel Messi once again showcased his brilliance on the field, scoring twice in the second half to lead Inter Miami CF to a resounding 4-0 triumph over New York City FC at Citi Field on Wednesday night. The win not only extended Messi’s incredible scoring form—netting five goals in the last nine days—but also officially booked Inter Miami’s place in the 2025 Major League Soccer playoffs.
Mascherano: “A Vital First Step”
Head coach Javier Mascherano expressed measured satisfaction with the team’s playoff qualification but made it clear that this was merely the beginning of their journey.
“We are happy and with the tranquility of having achieved the first goal, which was to qualify for the playoffs. Now we’ll try to finish as high as possible in the standings, which would allow us to have home-field advantage,” Mascherano stated.
With championship aspirations and the Supporters’ Shield still in sight, the coach emphasized that positioning will be crucial in the postseason.
A Gesture of Leadership: Messi’s Unselfish Moment
In the 83rd minute, with Inter Miami awarded a penalty and a hat-trick within reach, Messi chose not to take the shot himself. Instead, he handed the ball to longtime teammate Luis Suárez, allowing him to get on the scoresheet.
“He has done that too many times in his career,” Mascherano noted. “Sometimes he looks at teammates who haven’t scored and need a goal more than him… He showed great team spirit.”
This small but powerful gesture captured the essence of Messi’s leadership and humility—putting team morale above personal accolades.
Messi’s Historic MLS Run
Messi’s form since joining MLS has been nothing short of spectacular. He has now scored two or more goals in eight of his last twelve matches, placing him among the elite performers in league history. Only three players before him have achieved multiple goals in eight games during a single MLS season.
In his last three appearances alone, Messi has tallied five goals and three assists, making him the driving force behind Miami’s playoff push.
Eyes on the Shield: Miami’s Road Ahead
Looking beyond Wednesday’s victory, Inter Miami is preparing for a critical clash against Toronto FC on Saturday. With only a short window of rest, the team aims to continue its winning momentum.
“We know we have two games in hand, so we will try to rest and recover before going to Toronto. We have less than 72 hours, but we’ll fight to win,” said Mascherano.
He added that if Inter Miami can win all five remaining games, they stand a real chance of clinching the 2026 Supporters’ Shield—the prestigious award for the team with the best regular-season record.
Current Standings and What’s at Stake
Inter Miami currently holds third place in the Eastern Conference with 55 points from 29 games, trailing conference leaders Philadelphia Union who have played two more matches. With games in hand and momentum on their side, Miami remains in a strong position to climb the table and secure home-field advantage.
