Lionel Messi’s brief cameo could not halt Inter Miami’s winning run, as the club lost 2‑0 to New York Red Bull in Harrison, New Jersey, on Saturday. The match, which ended Inter Miami’s three‑game streak, saw the Reds take the lead through an own goal in the seventh minute and then seal the win with a late finish from Emil Forsberg.
The game began with Messi on the bench, a decision that followed a hectic travel itinerary. The Argentine had flown to Oviedo, Spain, on Thursday to receive the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports the following day, leaving little time for pre‑match preparation. He finally entered the fray in the 56th minute, but Inter Miami were already down 1‑0 after former Real Madrid and Manchester United midfielder Casemiro inadvertently turned a Cade Cowell cross into his own net while under pressure from United States teenager Julian Hall.
Messi’s arrival sparked a brief surge of creativity for the visitors. He delivered a defence‑splitting pass that set up Telasco Segovia, who struck a powerful shot that hit the crossbar. Although the attack created a promising chance, Inter Miami could not find the back of the net, and the Reds’ defense held firm.
In the closing stages, New York capitalised on a mistake from the Miami backline. Cameron Harper’s pass found Emil Forsberg, who calmly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 2‑0. The goal not only ended Inter Miami’s run of victories but also snapped Messi’s streak of 13 consecutive games with a goal contribution for both club and country.
The result leaves Inter Miami in second place, 15 points adrift of Nashville, who secured the Supporters’ Shield earlier that day. New York’s three points push them into a playoff spot with three games remaining in the regular season, while Miami’s defeat means they will need to regroup quickly as the weekend’s remaining fixtures loom.