Messi nets brace as Inter Miami crush Red Bulls 5-1 to bounce back from Cincinnati defeat

Lionel Messi was back to his electrifying best on Saturday night, scoring twice and assisting another as Inter Miami delivered a dominant 5-1 thrashing of the New York Red Bulls in a high-octane MLS clash at the Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey.

The emphatic victory marked a powerful response from the Herons, who were humbled just days earlier in a 3-0 defeat by FC Cincinnati. But any doubts about their attacking prowess were swiftly erased thanks to a vintage Messi performance that reignited Inter Miami’s title charge.

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The match began on a worrying note for the visitors, as Red Bulls defender Alexander Hack pounced on a loose ball in the box to fire the hosts into a 14th-minute lead. The early goal raised fears of another stumble for Miami, but Messi quickly turned the tide. Just 10 minutes later, Messi showcased his unmatched vision, threading a perfectly weighted ball to his former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba, who slotted home the equalizer to make it 1-1. The Argentine maestro was not done yet.

In the 27th minute, Messi orchestrated another attacking sequence, again linking up with Alba. The Spanish fullback found Telasco Segovia, who made no mistake from close range to put Miami 2-1 up. Segovia would then strike again deep into first-half stoppage time, extending Miami’s lead to 3-1 and leaving the Red Bulls reeling at the break.

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If the first half was a team effort, the second half belonged to one man — Lionel Messi. In the 60th minute, another ex-Barcelona connection lit up the stadium. Sergio Busquets, calm as ever in midfield, released Messi with a pinpoint through ball. The World Cup winner glided past the Red Bulls’ backline, shimmied past goalkeeper Carlos Coronel with a deft feint, and coolly slotted in his first goal of the night.

With Miami cruising at 4-1, Messi capped off his night with a second goal in the 85th minute. This time it was Luis Suárez, another familiar face from his Barcelona days, who floated in a cross from the left. Messi controlled expertly in the six-yard box and rifled the ball past Coronel, sealing a memorable night for the visitors.

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The two-goal performance takes Messi’s tally to 12 goals and 8 assists in MLS this season, reinforcing his impact since joining Inter Miami. Beyond the numbers, it was his movement, passing, and relentless creativity that defined this contest.

With the victory, Inter Miami reassert their position near the top of the MLS Eastern Conference standings and send a clear message to rivals that the Cincinnati loss was a mere blip.

A Statement Win in the Title Race

As the MLS 2025 season intensifies, Messi and Miami are building momentum at a crucial time. Their attacking quartet — Messi, Suárez, Alba, and Busquets — is firing on all cylinders, and their chemistry is proving difficult for any defense to contain.

Saturday night’s clash wasn’t just a game; it was a statement.

SportsLigue