Messi breaks record for goal participation in MLS playoffs with decisive performance for Inter Miami By Beatriz
3 min read
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Argentine Lionel Messi scored a goal and provided three assists in Inter Miami’s 4-0 victory over FC Cincinnati, in the MLS Conferência Leste semifinal, on Sunday (23), at TQL Stadium, in Cincinnati. The performance brought his direct goal contributions in the postseason to 12, surpassing the previous record of 10 held by Ante Razov, in 2000, and Carlos Ruiz, in 2002. The result qualified Inter Miami for their first conference final in the league’s history.
The match took place in a single game format, with Inter Miami taking advantage of efficient counterattacks to dominate the opponent, who finished the regular season as runner-up to Conferência Leste.
Messi, 38, has six goals and six assists in four games in the 2025 playoffs, contributing to all of his team’s goals in the knockout stage.
- Messi’s main numbers in the 2025 MLS playoffs: six goals scored directly.
- Three assists in the semifinals, for a total of six in the postseason.
- 100% involvement in Inter Miami’s 12 goals so far.
Details of the rout at TQL Stadium
The first half started evenly, but Inter Miami opened the scoring in the 19th minute.
Messi received a cross from Mateo Silvetti on the left and headed it into the back of the net, past goalkeeper Roman Celentano.
FC Cincinnati pressed in the following minutes, but Inter Miami’s defense, reinforced by Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, neutralized the attacks.
Argentine goal sequence
In the second half, the dominance was accentuated with quick plays.
In the 11th minute, Messi started the play at the edge of the area and passed it to Silvetti, who finished with precision to make it 2-0.
Five minutes later, in a counterattack, Messi threw Tadeo Allende behind the defense, who touched the goalkeeper for the third goal.
In the 28th minute, Allende repeated the feat in another quick transition, receiving a deep pass from Messi and making it 4-0.
All the goals came from the Argentines, highlighting the cohesion of the squad under the command of Javier Mascherano.
The coach chose to leave Luis Suárez on the bench, prioritizing speed in the open field.
History of record surpassed
Ante Razov reached his 10 appearances in 1999 for Chicago Fire, in a campaign that took the team to the final of MLS
Carlos Ruiz equaled the mark in 2002, with LA Galaxy, contributing to winning the title in that edition.
Messi, in just four matches, raised the bar with remarkable efficiency, adding 12 contributions in 360 minutes played.
MLS recorded the feat as the greatest in a single postseason since the format’s creation in 1996.
Data from Opta confirms that Messi is the first to surpass 10 in a knockout stage.
Numbers of Messi in the 2025 season
Messi finished the regular phase as top scorer with 29 goals and leader in assists with 19, in 28 games played.
In total, the Argentine has accumulated 35 goals and 20 assists in 32 matches for the Inter Miami in 2025, including continental cups.
His average of 1.56 contributions per game in the league puts him as a benchmark for individual awards.
Inter Miami won Supporters’ Shield in the regular season, a record for points in a campaign.
In the postseason, Messi already equals Ruiz’s goal total from 2002, with a chance to surpass him in the conference final.
Next challenge at Conferência Leste
Inter Miami faces New York City FC in the final of Conferência Leste, on Friday (28), at 9pm (on Brasília), on Chase Stadium, on Flórida.
NYCFC advanced after beating Philadelphia Union 1-0 in the other semifinal, with a goal from Maxi Moralez.
The winner guarantees a place in MLS Cup, on December 6, with Inter Miami as the potential home team for the best regular campaign.
The match marks the first direct confrontation between the teams in the playoffs.
