Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami team lost 3-0 against FC Cincinnati on Wednesday, ending his five-game streak of goals in Major League Soccer. As Inter achieved four victories and a tie during the run, the 38-year-old Argentine star forward had scored two goals in five straight games for Miami, giving him 16 goals for the season. Messi hadn’t scored a brace or more in five straight games since he joined Barcelona in 2012.
But during the game, Cincinnati limited Miami to just two shots on goal.
Through a translator, Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano stated, “It’s obvious that we were outplayed from the start of the game today.”
“We had a really hard time winning the individual duels. Perhaps one of the reasons is that we physically bring a lot of hustle and bustle, which ultimately costs us money.
“It ended well, but Leo took a knock at the end.”
Gerardo Valenzuela, a 20-year-old American midfielder, gave Cincinnati the lead in the 16th minute.
The hosts got all the goals they needed thanks to goals from Brazilian attacker Evander in the 50th and 70th minutes.
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“The game we wanted to play was not played. Mascherano claimed, “They constantly put us under pressure, we weren’t fresh or lucid, and they beat us very well.”
Miami dropped to 11-4 with five draws for 38 points, sixth in the Eastern Conference and eight points behind the MLS leader, Philadelphia, who defeated Montreal to maintain a one-point advantage over Cincinnati.
Inter Miami needs to win all three of their remaining games against both teams in order to pass their opponents for the league lead.
Mascherano declared, “The opponent outplayed us from beginning to end.” We are clearly concerned by the outcome and the manner in which they defeated us. We must now take a nap and prepare for the upcoming match.
That will happen on Saturday when Miami travels to the New York Red Bulls, who defeated New England 5-3 at home on Wednesday thanks to two goals apiece from Emil Forsberg of Sweden and Eric Choupo-Moting of Cameroon.
De Paul will move to Miami.
Inter Miami has reached an agreement with Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, an Argentinean international, according to a source familiar with the talks who spoke to AFP on Wednesday.
De Paul will spend the next four seasons of 2025 in Miami on loan from Atletico Madrid, with a more than $12 million buyout option for Inter after that.
De Paul might make his Miami debut on July 30 when Inter plays Mexican team Atlas in the Leagues Cup, a competition involving MLS and Mexican League teams.
Eleven months before the US, Canada, and Mexico host the World Cup, he will depart Europe after four seasons in Madrid to join his compatriot Messi.
Messi has not stated whether or not he will participate in the World Cup.
Reuniting with De Paul could help tempt Messi to sign a new contract with Inter, whose current agreement with the superstar expires at the end of this year. Messi and De Paul were teammates for Argentina’s 2022 World Cup champions.
Inter will erect a new stadium in Miami in 2026, and the team wants Messi to stay for that season.
Along with Messi, Uruguayan Luis Suarez, and Spaniards Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, DePaul, 31, is a new member of Miami’s core.
On Wednesday, Charlotte was announced as the 2026 MLS All-Star Game host city. The MLS All-Stars and Mexican League All-Stars will square off in this year’s all-star matchup in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday.
