MILESTONE MESSI, A HISTORIC COLLAPSE, AND THE FLORIDA DERBY THAT HAD EVERYTHING

MILESTONE MESSI, A HISTORIC COLLAPSE, AND THE FLORIDA DERBY THAT HAD EVERYTHING

Lionel Messi delivered a masterclass in his 100th Inter Miami appearance — then watched it all disappear in one of MLS history’s most stunning comebacks.

Messi’s Milestone Night Turns Sour

Saturday night at Nu Stadium was supposed to be a celebration.

Inter Miami entered the Florida Derby against Orlando City riding an 11-match unbeaten streak, bolstered by Lionel Messi’s brilliance and buoyed by the festive atmosphere surrounding his 100th appearance for the club. Within 33 minutes, Miami had built a commanding 3-0 lead, and Messi had delivered a performance worthy of his milestone night.

But by the final whistle, the script had flipped. Orlando City, led by Martín Ojeda’s hat trick and a stoppage-time winner from Tyrese Spicer, pulled off a 4-3 comeback that will live on in MLS lore as one of the league’s greatest turnarounds.

Messi’s Masterclass — While It Lasted

For 33 minutes, Lionel Messi was untouchable.

The Argentine maestro was involved in every Inter Miami goal, delivering two assists and scoring once himself as the Herons raced to a seemingly insurmountable lead.

4th minute: Messi picked out Telasco Segovia with a perfectly weighted pass. Segovia’s cross found Ian Fray, who headed home his first goal of the season.

25th minute: Messi’s vision unlocked Orlando’s defense again, threading a pass to Luis Suárez, who set up Segovia for a clinical finish.

33rd minute: Messi capped the half with a goal of his own, slotting a left-footed strike into the bottom corner after a flowing move involving Suárez and Segovia.

It was vintage Messi — precise, decisive, and utterly dominant. His eighth goal of the season earned him a fifth MLS Team of the Matchday selection for Week 11, a fitting recognition for his milestone performance.

The Ojeda Eruption

Then Martín Ojeda happened.

Orlando City’s designated player delivered one of the great individual performances in Florida Derby history, single-handedly erasing Miami’s three-goal advantage.

39th minute: Ojeda danced past three Miami defenders before unleashing a long-range strike that beat Dayne St. Clair.

68th minute: Adrián Marín found Ojeda in the box, and the midfielder buried a shot into the far corner.

79th minute: After a penalty was awarded, Ojeda stepped up and calmly converted to level the match at 3-3.

Ojeda’s hat trick was the first of his MLS career and earned him Player of the Matchday honors. His performance was so electric that even St. Clair’s heroics couldn’t stop him — including a point-blank save in the 73rd minute and another save in the 80th that came off his face.

Spicer Seals It

The final blow came in stoppage time.

Braian Ojeda — no relation to Martín — delivered a perfectly weighted through ball to Tyrese Spicer in the third minute of added time. Spicer latched onto it and slotted home the winner, completing Orlando City’s historic comeback.

The 4-3 victory marked only the fourth time in MLS history that a team has overcome a three-goal deficit to win. It snapped Miami’s unbeaten streak and handed the Herons their first-ever loss at Nu Stadium.

What’s Next for the Herons

Saturday’s collapse leaves Inter Miami at 5-4-2 (19 points), tied for third in the Eastern Conference with New England Revolution. With four matches remaining before MLS pauses for the FIFA World Cup, the Herons face a critical stretch:

None of these opponents had a winning record entering the weekend, but after Saturday’s collapse, Inter Miami can’t afford to take any lead for granted.

The Bottom Line

Lionel Messi’s brilliance was undeniable, and his 100th appearance for Inter Miami was a reminder of why he’s the greatest player of his generation. But MLS is a league where chaos reigns, and Saturday night was a painful lesson in the unpredictability of the sport.

For 33 minutes, Messi was unstoppable. For the rest of the match, Martín Ojeda and Orlando City stole the show.

Inter Miami’s next chapter begins Saturday in Toronto. Whether they can bounce back will define their season — and perhaps their legacy in the league.

Sources

• Orlando City SC: Match Report — Martín Ojeda’s Hat Trick Leads Orlando City SC to 4-3 Road Win Over Inter Miami CF (May 2, 2026)
• ESPN: Ojeda Gets Hat Trick as Orlando Stuns Miami from 3 Goals Down (May 2, 2026)
• WESH 2 News: Ojeda Nets Hat Trick as Orlando City Rallies to Beat Inter Miami (May 2, 2026)
• Inter Miami CF Official: Messi Named to MLS Team of the Matchday (May 5, 2026)