Inter Miami Secures 5-3 Victory Over Cincinnati with Messi’s Stellar Performance

• Inter Miami beat Cincinnati 5-3 in MLS 2026 on Wednesday, overturning a late deficit.

• Lionel Messi starred with two goals and an assist, his third match this season with at least three goal contributions.

• Messi nearly had a hat trick in the 89th minute, but it was ruled an own goal by goalkeeper Roman Celentano.

Lionel Messi had two goals and an assist, German Berterame scored the go-ahead goal in the 84th minute, and Inter Miami rallied for a 5-3 victory over Cincinnati on Wednesday, extending its road winning streak to seven.

This marks the third time this season that the Argentine superstar has had at least three goal contributions in a match. He is currently second in the league with 12 goals.

Mateo Silvetti evened the score at 3-3 in the 79th minute after coming on as a substitute.

Kevin Denkey, Pavel Bucha, and Evander scored for Cincinnati. It was the first time in 64 matches under coach Pat Noonan in 2023 that the team lost after leading with 15 minutes remaining.

Messi gave Miami a 1-0 lead at the 24-minute mark after deflecting a shot that went off Cincinnati’s Matt Miazga near the goal. Denkey tied the game on a penalty kick in the 41st minute.

After Bucha put Cincinnati ahead in the 49th minute, Messi equalized to 2-2 just six minutes later on a cutback following a pass from Luis Suarez.

Evander scored in the 64th minute with a right-footer from just outside the box, giving Cincinnati a 3-2 lead. However, Miami rallied and scored the next three goals.

Following Silvetti’s goal, Miami took the lead from a set piece when Cincinnati’s Andrei Chirila collided with goalkeeper Roman Celentano, allowing Berterame to slot it into the open net.

Messi appeared to have scored a hat trick in the 89th minute when his shot hit the post and deflected off Celentano, but it was later ruled as an own goal. Had it counted, it would have marked Messi’s 61st hat trick in all competitions.

To date, Messi boasts 61 goals and 42 assists in 65 regular-season matches.

Inter Miami had a slight edge in shots at 16-10.