Sam Surridge finished inside the fourth minute for Nashville SC. He struck again a minute into stoppage time to complete a brace and pull the game back to 2-2. Between his two goals came Lionel Messi’s 99th for Inter Miami.
Messi collected a return pass from Rodrigo De Paul in the 62nd minute, took a touch, and curled a left-footed strike from 20 yards into the far corner. It was his 19th league goal of the season, keeping him at the top of the MLS Golden Boot race, and his 99th in all competitions for the club since he joined in 2023.
By then Miami had already cancelled Nashville’s opener. Reed Baker-Whiting turned a Messi corner into his own net around the 20th minute to level it at 1-1.
The winning goal never arrived. Messi struck the underside of the bar in the 50th, hit the post in the 78th and had a late header cleared off the line by Nashville defender Jeisson Palacios. Moments after that clearance, Surridge finished at the far post to complete the equaliser.
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One win in nine for Miami
The result leaves Inter Miami second in the Eastern Conference, nine points behind Nashville with nine regular-season games to play. A defeat to San Diego FC in their next fixture could drop them as low as fifth.
Interim head coach Guillermo Hoyos, still in charge while new head coach Cristian “Kily” González waits for his U.S. work permit to clear, leaned on individual quality when asked about the No. 10.
“God gave him this gift. He’s a one-of-a-kind player; he’s one of a kind.”
Since arriving in 2023, Messi has scored 17 goals in 14 matches against Nashville in all competitions, more than he has managed against any non-Spanish opponent.
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Mura frustrated by the last kick
Defender Facundo Mura spoke afterwards.
“We allowed a goal early but we fought hard to get back into the game. The tough part is feeling we were superior and the last play took away three points.”
New signing Matias Galarza also reflected on the result.
“To be in a team with so many stars makes me happy; unfortunately, we couldn’t get the result.”
Inter Miami’s next MLS fixture is against San Diego FC.
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