Bob Poe | May 24, 2026 |
Key Points
- A chaotic classic: Inter Miami outlasted the Philadelphia Union in a 6-4 thriller, one of the highest-scoring matches in MLS history, with eight first-half goals setting a league record.
- Messi’s injury scare: Lionel Messi exited in the 71st minute with an apparent hamstring issue, walking straight to the locker room and leaving his World Cup status in doubt.
- Miami’s resilience: Despite Messi’s absence, Luis Suárez completed a hat trick, and Rodrigo De Paul sealed the win in stoppage time, sending Miami into the World Cup break on a high.
The First Half: A Record-Breaking Rollercoaster
This was supposed to be a routine match — a celebratory send-off for Inter Miami before MLS paused for the World Cup. Instead, it turned into an unforgettable spectacle.
The Philadelphia Union came out swinging, racing to a shocking 3-1 lead by the 20th minute. But Inter Miami, true to their never-say-die attitude, clawed back. Goals from Germán Berterame and Luis Suárez flipped the game on its head, giving Miami a brief lead.
Then, chaos struck again. Milan Iloski of the Union completed a first-half hat trick, including two penalty kicks, with his third coming deep into stoppage time. The whistle blew with the score tied 4-4 — and the first half went down as the highest-scoring half in MLS history.
And if that wasn’t bizarre enough, the referee’s shoe literally fell apart mid-match, forcing a surreal stoppage that somehow felt fitting for this wild afternoon.
The Turning Point: Messi’s Hamstring
The second half was a far cry from the first, as both teams tightened up defensively. But the real drama unfolded in the 71st minute, when Lionel Messi stepped up to take a free kick.
Immediately after striking the ball, Messi clutched his left hamstring and signaled to the bench. He walked off the field without hesitation, bypassing the bench and heading straight down the tunnel.
The sight of Messi leaving the pitch was enough to silence the raucous crowd at Nu Stadium. With the World Cup roster deadline on June 1, Argentina’s captain has precious little time to recover.
For a player who was expected to lead the reigning champions in his sixth World Cup, the injury couldn’t have come at a worse time.
Miami Finishes the Job
Despite the emotional blow of losing their captain, Inter Miami showed their mettle.
Luis Suárez, playing with the swagger of a man who knows his time in MLS may be nearing its end, completed a hat trick with a clinical finish in the 81st minute to give Miami the lead. Rodrigo De Paul added a dagger in stoppage time, sealing the 6-4 victory.
The win extended Miami’s unbeaten streak to four games and solidified their spot at 4th in the MLS standings heading into the break.
By the Numbers: A Game for the Ages
| Category | Stat |
|---|---|
| Final Score | Miami 6 – Philadelphia 4 |
| Total Goals | 10 — among MLS’s highest-scoring games ever |
| First-Half Goals | 8 — an MLS record for a single half |
| Suárez Goals | 3 (hat trick) |
| Iloski Goals (PHI) | 3 (first-half hat trick) |
| Messi Exit Minute | 71st |
What’s Next: The World Cup Looms
Inter Miami now enters a 52-day MLS break as the soccer world shifts its focus to the World Cup. For Miami, the pause is both a blessing and a curse.
Major Questions Heading Into June:
- Messi’s health: How serious is the injury? Will Messi be ready to lead Argentina as they defend their 2022 World Cup title?
- Messi’s commitment: Will he confirm his participation in what could be his sixth and final World Cup?
- Miami’s momentum: Can the team maintain their form after a nearly two-month layoff?
Inter Miami’s 6-4 win over Philadelphia will go down as one of the wildest games in MLS history. But the victory feels bittersweet.
The image of Lionel Messi walking off the field clutching his left leg is one that will haunt Miami fans until more is known about his condition. For a franchise built around its captain, and for a nation hoping for World Cup glory, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Inter Miami enters the break in a strong position, but the next few days will determine whether their season — and Argentina’s World Cup hopes — can stay on track.
— Inter Miami CF Desk | Coverage powered by ESPN, Field Level Media, FOX Soccer, and MLS Soccer
