After their 3-0 collapse to FC Cincinnati some days ago, Inter Miami returned to winning ways as Messi yet hit another brace to help cushion his team to a 5-1 win over New York Red Bulls.
Softfootball watched as Javier Masherano’s men turn the table on the night to reach 41 points, climbing to fifth place in the Eastern Conference
Lionel Messi was the star of the game again as he bagged two goals and two assists to lead Inter Miami to a commanding 5-1 win. The Argentine could not help the last time in the 3-0 loss to Cincinnati but made magic happen this time around.
As seen on Miami’s X handle, Messi was crowned Icon of the game.
A brace, two assists, and a night full of fútbol 🧙♂️ Another #IconOfTheMatch trophy secured 🏆 @RoyalCaribbean pic.twitter.com/FJT31btxmT
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 20, 2025
Manager Javier Mascherano who was relieved to see his team back winning games could not hold back his words after the game. The gaffer said:
“I was with him for eight years at Barcelona, with the national team, at airports, hotels – especially in places he hasn’t visited often, people go crazy.
“He generates all of this. I think the admiration is total, but it’s not just because of the kind of footballer he is. I think he’s a role model, someone who transcends the sport.
“Any sports fan feels admiration for athletes like Messi, Michael Jordan, Rafael Nadal — people who have made history in their sport. We are very privileged to witness this up close.”
The manager who has kept talking about his players’ health since returning from the Club World Cup did not stop talking about the rough schedule for his team and also addressed some defensive lapses he saw in the game. He explained:
“This was a difficult period with all the travel and little rest – the match against Cincinnati reflected our fatigue. Now we have a long week, and we’ll use it to let the guys who are most tired get some rest.
“If you want to be competitive, you have to be very solid defensively. We’ve been okay, but we need to improve.”
As the Herons win their sixth out of seven games, Messi extended his tally to 18 goals this season and has now contributed to 25 of Inter Miami’s goals. He also recorded his sixth brace in the team’s last seven games.
