Messi scores late and sets up another as Inter Miami beat New England Revolution 2-1

Lionel Messi provided a superb assist and scored late in the match as Inter Miami beat New England Revolution 2-1. With the win, the team has secured its place in next year's Concacaf Champions Cup.

The result lifts Miami to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference ahead of the MLS Cup playoffs. Messi now has 26 goals and 16 assists this season. An assist is helping a teammate score. He is ahead in the race to win the MLS MVP award for a third consecutive time and the Golden Boot for a second consecutive time.

The two sides were evenly matched for the first 45 minutes, and neither scored by half-time. In the 28th minute Inter Miami got a good chance when Mexican player Berterame shot with his left foot from the left side of the box, but New England goalkeeper Matt Turner kept it out.

In the 53rd minute of the second half, hosts New England opened the scoring through Daniel Gazdag. Inter Miami levelled at 1-1 in the 69th minute with a fine team move. Segovia played a lob pass into the box, Messi headed the ball towards Berterame, and Berterame powered a header into the goal. It was Berterame's 10th goal of the season and Messi's 16th assist in the league.

In the 83rd minute Inter Miami turned the match around. After a fine passing sequence, Messi scored the decisive goal. Suarez pushed the ball to Messi outside the box, where the Argentine star got past three defenders. With Segovia's help he then took the ball into the box.

The goal took Messi's tally to 26 and put him well ahead in the race for the MLS 2026 Golden Boot. Segovia's assist count this season also rose to 12. The score stayed 2-1 in Inter Miami's favour until the final whistle, and the team collected three points away from home.