Messi strikes again but Nashville snatch late draw against Inter Miami

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Inter Miami’s Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi misses a chance to score against Nashville’s US goalkeeper #99 Brian Schwake during a Major League Soccer (MLS) regular season football match between Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC at Nu Stadium in Miami, Florida, on September 12, 2026. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP)

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Lionel Messi extended his incredible scoring streak against MLS-leaders Nashville on Saturday as Inter Miami battled to a 2-2 draw in their top-of-the-table Eastern Conference clash.

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Messi curled in a superb strike on 62 minutes at Miami’s Nu Stadium to fire Inter into a 2-1 lead but Nashville grabbed a share of the points after striker Sam Surridge bundled in an injury-time equaliser.

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The 39-year-old Messi has now scored a remarkable 17 goals in 14 games against Nashville in all competitions since joining Miami in 2023.

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And Messi could have even improved his goals record against in Saturday’s game between the first and second-placed sides in the Eastern Conference.

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Messi saw a shot crash off the underside of the bar in the 50th minute and also saw a shot cannon off the post in the 78th minute. A late Messi effort was also headed clear by Nashville defender Jeisson Palacios before Surridge’s leveler.

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The result leaves Inter nine points adrift of Nashville in the race for top seeding with nine regular season games remaining.

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Earlier, Nashville had got off to a dream start when English striker Surridge sprang the offside trap before burying a low shot into the bottom corner in the fourth minute.

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But Miami drew level midway through the half and again Messi was involved. The World Cup-winner’s wicked in-swinging corner found the head of Nashville defender Reed Baker-Whiting, who glanced in an own goal.

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It looked as if Messi had grabbed the winner midway through the second half when he combined with former Argentina international team-mate Rodrigo De Paul on the edge of the area before curling a shot beyond the dive of Brian Schwake.

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But Miami’s failure to extend their lead proved costly as Surridge scored from close range in injury time to steal a point.

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