Messi leads Inter Miami comeback, wins MLS Player of the Matchday

Key Highlights

• Orlando City took a 2–0 lead in the first half, capitalizing on defensive mistakes and the home crowd's energy. Messi changed the match after halftime. The Argentine scored two goals to lead Miami’s comeback and secure the club’s first regular-season victory in Orlando in MLS history.
• His influence extended beyond the goals.
• Messi dictated the tempo, accelerated attacking sequences, and took control of the decisive moments. The first goal reignited the match.
• The second shifted momentum completely, allowing Miami to settle into the game and close out the result. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIn rivalry games, elite players tend to decide the outcome.
• Messi did exactly that. Numbers behind the impactThe derby context amplified the performance, but Messi’s statistical impact in MLS continues to stand out. With his two goals against Orlando, he reached:17 regular-season matches with multiple goals89 total goal contributions52 goals37 assistsAll of that has come in just 55 MLS matches. Few players in league history have maintained that level of efficiency.