Messi Continues Scoring as Inter Miami Draws

Argentine star Lionel Messi extended his remarkable scoring streak against Nashville, the top team in Major League Soccer (MLS), yesterday, but his Inter Miami side could only manage a 2-2 draw in a top-of-the-table clash between the first- and second-placed teams in the Eastern Conference. Messi curled in a brilliant goal in the 62nd minute at Chase Stadium, giving Inter Miami a 2-1 lead, but Nashville snatched a valuable point when English striker Sam Surridge scored an equalizer in the first minute of stoppage time. The 39-year-old Messi increased his tally to 17 goals in 14 matches against Nashville across all competitions since joining Miami in 2023. Messi could have added to his record, but his shot hit the underside of the crossbar in the 50th minute, and another attempt rebounded off the post in the 78th minute. Nashville defender Jhoan Palacios also headed away a late Messi chance before Surridge’s equalizer. With this result, Inter Miami now trail Nashville by nine points in the standings race, with nine matches remaining in the regular season. Nashville started the match ideally when Surridge exploited an offside trap and fired a low shot into the bottom corner of the net in the fourth minute to open the scoring. Miami equalized in the first half, with Messi playing a decisive role again by delivering a curling, deceptive corner kick that Nashville defender Reid Baker-Whiting accidentally deflected into his own net (19th minute). It seemed Messi had snatched the winner in the second half when he exchanged passes with his compatriot Rodrigo De Paul on the edge of the box before curling a shot past goalkeeper Brian Schalk, but Miami’s failure to extend their lead proved costly, as Surridge scored his second from close range to secure a draw for his team (90+1).