Overview

• Messi entered at halftime and drilled the go-ahead goal in the 84th minute to break the 1-1 deadlock.
• Five minutes later he delivered a cheeky back-heel assist to Luis Suárez for the 3-1 clincher.
• The win lifted Inter Miami to fourth in the MLS Eastern Conference with 45 points and three games in hand.
• Coach Javier Mascherano lauded Messi’s progression through the match and emphasized careful workload management despite the forward’s eagerness to play.
• Inter Miami now turns its focus to Wednesday’s Leagues Cup quarterfinal against Tigres UANL with Messi restored to full match fitness.