In the world of football, some matches are not just about points, they are about prestige, honor and the opening of old wounds, as we learned on Tuesday, September 16, when Inter Miami and Seattle Sounders met at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This was not just a Major League Soccer (MLS) match, but also an attempt to avenge a big defeat, to regain lost confidence and to announce the return of the great Lionel Messi. After a humiliating defeat to the same Seattle Sounders in the Leagues Cup final 16 days earlier, Inter Miami not only earned three points in this match with a resounding 3-1 victory, but also gave a fitting reply to their critics. The architect of this victory was Lionel Messi, who once again proved with a goal and an assist that he is a player beyond time.
The fire of revenge and the hunger for victory
The backdrop to this match was extremely dramatic. On August 31, Inter Miami and the Seattle Sounders faced off in the Leagues Cup final. Miami, who had entered the field with the dream of winning the first major trophy of the Messi era, were crushed by Seattle 3-0. The defeat was not limited to the numbers, it was a blow to Miami’s confidence. The defeat was made even more bitter by the fights and arguments that occurred between the players at the end of the match. Miami’s star striker Luis Suarez had sparked a huge controversy when he spat at a Seattle staff member. The misconduct led to a ban for Suarez, while the atmosphere was further heated by a scuffle between Sergio Busquets and Seattle player Obed Vargas.
After that defeat, Miami tried to recover, but on Saturday, September 13, they were defeated again by Charlotte FC, 3-0. The team was under a lot of pressure due to two consecutive defeats and a loss of confidence. Therefore, this match against Seattle was a do or die for them. It was not just revenge, but a great opportunity to get back on track and strengthen their position in the playoffs.
Miami dominates from the start
From the opening whistle, the body language of Inter Miami players showed a different confidence and determination to win. The team was more focused on getting three points than revenge, but the feeling of avenging the old defeat was clearly visible in every move they made on the field.
Messi-Alba duo shine once again
Inter Miami took an aggressive stance right from the start of the match. In the 12th minute, midfielder Yannick Bright made a brilliant play to steal the ball from a Seattle player. He passed it to the speedy Lionel Messi. Messi sprinted down the left flank and broke through the Seattle defense. His eyes were on the goalpost, but he saw that his old teammate Jordi Alba was in the right position. Without a moment’s hesitation, Messi passed the ball perfectly to Alba, who made no mistake and fired the ball into the net. The goal gave Inter Miami a 1-0 lead and the fans at Chase Stadium cheered. The goal was a perfect example of the excellent synergy between the Messi-Alba duo. It was Messi’s 29th assist of the season, once again setting the record for most assists for the Inter Miami franchise.
Messi’s incredible mistake
Messi’s confidence grew after assisting a goal, but in the 28th minute, Messi took control of the ball on a long pass from Sergio Busquets. He easily beat two Seattle defenders and got close to the goalpost. The goalkeeper was on one side and Messi had an open target to score. Everyone thought it would be an easy goal, but surprisingly Messi’s left-footed shot went wide of the left post. This was his third big mistake in the last few games. The mistake caused silence in the stadium, but that’s the beauty of football – even great players make mistakes.
Mistakes and Messi’s historic goal
Undeterred by the missed opportunity, Messi continued his efforts. A few minutes before halftime, in the 41st minute, Jordi Alba once again delivered a wonderful cross from the left flank. The ball went over the heads of the Seattle defenders and straight towards the goalpost. This time, Messi made no mistake, he ran and made a wonderful sliding finish and sent the ball into the net. This goal doubled Inter Miami’s lead to 2-0. This goal was not only important for the team, but also historic for Messi. It was his 20th goal of this MLS season.
Dominance in the second half and Seattle’s struggle
After taking a strong 2-0 lead in the first half, Inter Miami continued to dominate in the second half. They did not give the Seattle team any chances.
Miami’s third goal
In the second half, on a corner kick taken by Rodrigo de Paul, young defender Ian Frey jumped high and scored the team’s third goal with a header. This goal almost sealed the victory for Inter Miami and completely destroyed the morale of the Seattle team.
Seattle’s only goal
In the 69th minute of the match, the Seattle Sounders finally got their only success. The same player who had a dispute with Obed Vargas in the Leagues Cup final, tried to reduce the margin of defeat by scoring a goal with the help of Jordan Morris. But it was too late.
The match will be known not only for Inter Miami’s victory, but also for Lionel Messi’s personal records. He crossed several milestones in this match.
Entry into the elite club in MLS history
The goal in this match was Messi’s 20th MLS goal of the season, making him only the fifth player in MLS history to score 20 or more goals in two consecutive seasons. This feat was previously achieved by David Villa (2016-17), Joseph Martinez (2018-19), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (2018-19) and Denis Bouanga (2023-24). Joining this elite club is a testament to Messi’s consistent performance.
Race for the MLS Golden Boot
This goal has now moved Messi further ahead in the race for the MLS Golden Boot (the award for the top scorer). He is currently just one goal behind Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge (21 goals).
Record for most goals contributed
Messi has contributed 31 goals and assists this season. He is slightly behind San Diego FC’s Anders Dreyer in the league, but these figures show how valuable his performance is to the team.
The victory not only gave Inter Miami three points, but also boosted their morale. The victory had many positive effects.
With this victory, Inter Miami has jumped from eighth place to fifth place in the MLS Eastern Conference standings with 45 points. This has further strengthened their position in the playoffs.
Inter Miami’s next match is against D.C. United on Saturday. The team has seven games to play in 22 days, which will be a huge challenge. Messi’s return to form, after recovering from a hamstring injury last month, will be crucial for the team in this busy schedule. The win keeps Inter Miami in contention to win the 2025 MLS Supporters’ Shield (the regular season title, which they won last year) and the MLS Cup (the playoff title).