Lionel Messi Still Dey Shine Like Star as Inter Miami Beat New England 2-1
For di evening of July 9, 2025, inside Gillette Stadium for Foxborough, Massachusetts, Lionel Messi, di 38-year-old Argentina baba, show say e still get fire as e lead Inter Miami to knack New England Revolution 2-1 for MLS.
Dis win na di fourth time wey Inter Miami don win back-to-back for league, and na Messi magic carry dem go up for Eastern Conference table. E no just win di match; e become di first player for MLS history to score two goals for four straight league matches. Na pure class!
Lionel Messi no waste time to show hinself. For 27th minute, e catch New England defender Tanner Beason wey misplay header back to goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic. With hin cool head, Messi grab di ball and fire correct left-foot shot enter net, give Inter Miami 1-0 lead. Just 11 minutes later, di guy show hin tight connection with Sergio Busquets, hin former Barcelona paddy. Busquets see Messi run, send sweet through-ball from midfield. Messi collect am, touch once, and curl one fine shot past Ivacic enter far post, make am 2-0. Dat goal na pure juju, e scatter everybody brain!
Dis two goals add to Lionel Messi crazy stats: 14 goals and 7 assists for only 15 MLS matches dis season, put am second for Golden Boot race behind Nashville Sam Surridge. Hin game no be only goals o; e show levels. Lionel Messi complete 45 out of 54 passes with 83% accuracy, create one big chance, win four duels, and complete three out of five dribbles. Dem give am 9.1 match rating and Player of di Match. E even help for defense, win ball back, and push hin teammates with hin never-tire hustle.
Inter Miami win no come easy. New England fight back for 79th minute when Carles Gil hammer one long-range shot, make am 2-1. Even though New England try 16 shots with 6 on target, Inter Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari hold ground with five sharp saves to keep di lead. Dis win carry Inter Miami go fifth place for Eastern Conference with 35 points from 18 matches, seven points behind FC Cincinnati wey dey lead, but dem still get three games in hand because of CONCACAF Champions Cup and FIFA Club World Cup wey dem play before.
Messi form na fire! E start hin scoring streak for late May with two goals against Montreal (4-2) and Columbus (5-1), continue after small Club World Cup break where e score once for four matches, then drop another two goals for 4-1 win against Montreal before dis New England match. Eight goals for four MLS games na madness! Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano, hin former teammate, hail am, talk say, “For me, na di best player wey ever play dis game. E dey do things wey we no fit imagine years back.”
Di win also show di tight bond between Lionel Messi and hin Barcelona boys—Busquets, Luis Suárez, and Jordi Alba. Mascherano talk say, “Dem don play together for years, so once dem see each other, dem connect sharp.” But no be everybody happy o—some fans for X dey yab Suárez say e no perform well even though dem win, show say people dey expect plenty from dis star team.
Some people dey worry about Messi workload. E don play every minute of Inter Miami last nine MLS matches, plus four Club World Cup and four Champions Cup games. Mascherano talk say e plan to rest Messi, but e leave am for field against New England because dem dey press. ascended. With plenty matches for July, like di one against Nashville wey dey come, dem go need manage Messi time well so e no go tire or injure.
Lionel Messi performance against New England na proof say e be di greatest ever. At 38, e dey break records, run matches, and carry hin team like young boy. As Inter Miami dey push for second straight Supporters’ Shield, Lionel Messi na di engine wey dey drive dem, and fans dey wait for hin next magic.