Lionel Messi once again delivered a performance worthy of his legendary status, guiding Inter Miami to a dominant 4–0 victory over FC Cincinnati in the MLS Eastern Conference Cup semi-final. Miami are now just one win away from reaching the MLS Cup final for the first time in their history.
Messi was involved in all four goals—scoring one himself and providing three masterful assists. Tadeo Allende netted twice, while Mateo Silvetty added another, all from Messi’s precise creative play.
Miami march into the Conference Final
With this win, Miami advance to Saturday’s Eastern Conference Final, where they will face New York City FC. New York booked their spot by defeating Philadelphia Union 1–0. Should Miami win the next match, they will reach the MLS Cup final—a landmark achievement for the club.
Messi sets the tone early
Playing in Ohio, Miami took the lead in the 19th minute when Messi curled in a trademark left-footed strike from inside the box. It was Miami’s only goal of the first half, although they controlled the tempo throughout.
In the second half, the visitors became even more aggressive. Messi set up Silvetty in the 57th minute to double the advantage. Then in the 62nd and 74th minutes, Messi provided two more incisive passes, allowing Allende to score twice and seal a commanding victory.
Messi’s colossal career numbers
With this match, Messi’s career assists reached 404, complementing his extraordinary 896 goals. Together, he now has contributed to 1,300 career goals—a figure almost unmatched in world football.
Messi’s performance: complete domination
Beyond the goal and assists, Messi created eight chances—four of them clear scoring opportunities. He attempted three shots, completed two successful dribbles and won 100 per cent of his tackles. His passing in the final third was superb, with seven key passes and flawless accuracy on crosses and long balls. He completed 41 accurate passes overall.
Table: Messi’s Match Statistics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Chances Created | 8 |
| Big Chances | 4 |
| Shots | 3 |
| Successful Dribbles | 2 |
| Tackles Won | 100% |
| Accurate Passes | 41 |
Coach Mascherano praises the team — and Messi
Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano said,
“It was a tough match in a tough stadium. I’m proud of the way the team performed. They showed exactly what they are capable of.”
He added,
“Coaching Leo and this entire group is a privilege. We all know what Messi can do—he proves it every single week. Today he worked tirelessly even without the ball, and when he had it, he changed everything.”