Lionel Messi’s remarkable streak of scoring multiple goals in five consecutive MLS matches came to a halt on Wednesday night as Inter Miami suffered a crushing 3-0 defeat to FC Cincinnati.
The 38-year-old Argentine forward had netted braces in five straight matches — a record-setting run in Major League Soccer — bringing his season tally to 16 goals. But at Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium, Messi and his teammates struggled to find their rhythm, managing just two shots on target throughout the game.
“We were outplayed from the start,” Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano said. “It was hard to win individual duels. We’ve been through a very intense stretch physically, and it caught up with us.”
Mascherano confirmed Messi picked up a knock late in the match but added, “It ended well.”
Cincinnati took control early through 20-year-old American midfielder Gerardo Valenzuela, who opened the scoring in the 16th minute. Brazilian striker Evander added a second in the 50th minute and sealed the victory with another goal in the 70th minute.
“We didn’t play the way we wanted,” Mascherano admitted. “They kept us under pressure, we weren’t sharp or fresh. They beat us convincingly.”
The loss leaves Inter Miami with a record of 11 wins, 4 losses, and 5 draws, totaling 38 points and sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference. They now trail league leaders Philadelphia — who defeated Montreal — by eight points.
Cincinnati sits second, just one point behind Philadelphia, though Miami has three games in hand.
Despite that advantage, Mascherano emphasized the urgency for a turnaround: “The result and how we lost are concerning. Now we rest and fpocus on the next game.”
Inter Miami will look to bounce back on Saturday when they face the New York Red Bulls, who are coming off a 5-3 victory over New England, powered by braces from Eric Choupo-Moting and Emil Forsberg.
Messi’s record-breaking form had previously fueled Inter’s rise, but Wednesday night served as a reminder that even legends have their off days — and that the MLS title race remains wide open.
