MLS Leaders Cincinnati Crush Inter Miami, Snap Messi’s Goal Streak

Lionel Messi’s incredible streak of scoring two goals in five consecutive Major League Soccer (MLS) matches came to a halt on Wednesday night as Inter Miami suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat against FC Cincinnati. The Argentine superstar, who has been in stunning form at the age of 38, had scored 10 goals in his previous five games, helping Miami secure four victories and one draw. That impressive run boosted his season tally to 16 goals, underlining his enduring impact even in the latter stages of his career.

This scoring run was Messi’s best since 2012 when he played for Barcelona, where he also managed to score two or more goals in five consecutive matches. However, against a well-organized and energetic Cincinnati team, Messi and his teammates were shut down completely. Cincinnati’s defense was solid and disciplined, allowing Inter Miami only two shots on target throughout the entire game.

Inter Miami’s head coach Javier Mascherano, who played alongside Messi for Argentina in the past, admitted that his team was outplayed right from kickoff. Speaking after the match, Mascherano said it was tough for his players to win individual battles and that fatigue from a packed match schedule might have played a role in their flat performance. He also revealed that Messi took a minor knock late in the game but ended the match without any serious injury concerns.

Cincinnati opened the scoring in the 16th minute through 20-year-old American midfielder Gerardo Valenzuela. The goal gave the home side early momentum, and they didn’t look back. Brazilian striker Evander extended the lead in the 50th minute and sealed the victory with another goal in the 70th. It was a dominant display by Cincinnati, who kept pressing Inter Miami and gave them no space to create chances.

“We didn’t play the way we wanted,” said Mascherano. “They kept us under pressure the whole time. We weren’t fresh, we weren’t focused, and they took full advantage of it. They beat us fair and square.”

The loss leaves Inter Miami with a record of 11 wins, 4 losses, and 5 draws, collecting 38 points. That places them fifth in the Eastern Conference standings. They now sit eight points behind table-toppers Philadelphia, who continue to lead the overall MLS standings after defeating Montreal. Cincinnati, with this win, remained close behind Philadelphia, just a single point away from the top spot.

Despite the setback, Inter Miami has a glimmer of hope as they have played three fewer matches than both Philadelphia and Cincinnati. If Messi and the team can bounce back and win those games in hand, they could potentially overtake their rivals and take the lead in the standings. But the challenge won’t be easy, especially with performances like this one.

Mascherano, visibly disappointed, added, “The other team was better than us from start to finish. The way they controlled the game and the way we lost is something that worries us. We need to recover, regroup, and focus on our next game.”

That next match comes quickly, as Inter Miami will travel to face the New York Red Bulls on Saturday. The Red Bulls are coming off a high-scoring 5-3 win over New England Revolution, with standout performances from Cameroon’s Eric Choupo-Moting and Sweden’s Emil Forsberg, both scoring twice. It promises to be another tough test for Messi and Miami as they aim to return to winning form and keep their title hopes alive.