Messi nets first goal in five games in front of Mahomes as Miami cruises
Lionel Messi scored his first goal in five matches, and Inter Miami returned to its winning ways with a 4-1 win against the New York Red Bulls on May 3.
Messi fired a strike with his legendary left boot after a back-and-forth exchange with teammate Telasco Segovia in the 67th minute of the victory, which broke a three-game losing streak across all competitions for Miami.
Fafa Picault (9’), Marcelo Weingandt (30’) and Luis Suarez (39’) scored during the match for Inter Miami as NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes, receiver Odell Beckham and skier Lindsey Vonn were among celebrities in attendance at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Messi’s goal was his fourth of the MLS season and his eighth across all games in 2025. It was his first since scoring two goals to help Inter Miami advance past LAFC in the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals on April 9.
Suarez, who assisted Picault’s goal, also ended a personal nine-match scoreless drought, dating back to March 14, with his goal. He’s scored four goals across all games this year, and 30 total goals since joining Inter Miami last year.
It was Inter Miami’s first match since being eliminated in the semifinals of the Champions Cup by Vancouver Whitecaps by a 5-1 aggregate score. They lost 2-0 at Vancouver on April 24, lost at home to FC Dallas, 4-3, on April 27, and fell at home to Vancouver on April 30.
Messi and Inter Miami will play two games on the road in the next 10 days: They’ll visit Minnesota United on May 10 at 4:30 p.m. ET, and the San Jose Earthquakes on May 14 at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Inter Miami improved to fourth place in the MLS Eastern Conference standings with 21 points from six wins, a loss and three draws during the regular season.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored in the 43rd minute in the loss for New York. The Red Bulls, which fell to the L.A. Galaxy in the MLS Cup final last season, remain in ninth place with 15 points from four wins, four losses and three draws.