Messi missed his third penalty in a row as Inter Miami suffered a third consecutive loss in a 4-1 rout at first-place Nashville on Saturday.
It was Messi’s first penalty miss in MLS since Sept. 13, 2025.
In a high-stakes clash at Geodis Park, league leaders Nashville SC delivered a commanding performance to halt Inter Miami’s six-game unbeaten streak with a decisive 4-1 victory. The match carried heavy implications for the Eastern Conference and Supporters’ Shield standings, as a win for the reigning MLS Cup champions, Inter Miami, would have propelled them to the summit of the table. Instead, Nashville’s dominant display allowed them to break away, establishing a comfortable five-point cushion over their rivals with just 15 regular-season games left on the schedule.
The match opened with intensive pressure from Nashville, breaking the deadlock early through a 17th-minute strike by Andy Nájar. Inter Miami managed to mount a comeback just before the halftime whistle; Lionel Messi orchestrated the equalizer by picking out Telasco Segovia, who showcased clever footwork inside the box to find the back of the net in first-half stoppage time. However, any momentum Miami hoped to carry into the second half was quickly erased as Nashville ran riot after the break. Former MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar took center stage, striking twice on either side of a brilliant, back-heeled finish from Nashville forward Sam Surridge to completely dismantle Miami’s defense.
The narrative of the night was heavily defined by a thoroughly miserable and uncharacteristic performance from Lionel Messi, who grew increasingly isolated and frustrated as the match slipped away. Beyond having an earlier penalty saved by Nashville goalkeeper Brian Schwake, Messi’s misfortune peaked in the second half. He received a yellow card for a heated protest to the referee, claiming he was fouled in the buildup to Surridge’s goal. Later in stoppage time, luck completely deserted him when a single attacking sequence saw his shot ricochet off both goalposts, and a subsequent ball he managed to put into the back of the net was promptly ruled out for offside.
defensive collapse was punctuated by a catastrophic error that gifted Nashville their final, match-clinching fourth goal. Inter Miami goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo suffered an unfortunate slip that left him completely stranded far outside his penalty area. This blunder allowed a long kick forward from Nashville’s defense to bounce straight to an onrushing Mukhtar, who calmly walked the ball into a completely unguarded net. The loss leaves Miami forced to regroup after missing a crucial opportunity to claim the league’s top spot, while Nashville solidifies its status as the team to beat.
This definitive defeat serves as a harsh reality check for Inter Miami, highlighting how heavily they rely on momentum and defensive stability when facing elite competition. While the return of Lionel Messi to the starting lineup provided a brief spark, his uncharacteristic struggles on the night—combined with costly individual errors at the back—exposed vulnerabilities that Nashville SC was all too eager to exploit. For Nashville, this statement victory not only solidifies their championship credentials but also lays down a marker for the rest of the league as the race for the Supporters’ Shield intensifies. With 15 games left to play, Miami must quickly fix their defensive breakdowns and regroup before Wednesday’s away match against Philadelphia if they hope to keep their title ambitions alive.