Inter Miami heads into Sunday night’s home matchup against the Portland Timbers looking like the hottest team in MLS. And honestly, after what happened in Cincinnati, it feels like this squad believes it can score anytime, against anybody, no matter how ugly things look.
That comeback on May 13 wasn’t just entertaining — it was chaos in the best possible way.
Miami looked dead in the water late at TQL Stadium before the entire match flipped upside down. Three goals in the final 11 minutes. Messi taking over. Cincinnati unraveling defensively. Fans losing their minds. Final score: Inter Miami 5, FC Cincinnati 3.
That’s the kind of game people replay for weeks.
ESPN’s headline basically summed it up perfectly: “Messi stars as Inter Miami win thriller.”
And now the Herons return home with momentum that feels very real.
Messi, Berterame, and De Paul Are Tearing Teams Apart
Right now, Inter Miami’s attack looks borderline unfair.
Germán Berterame has been lethal in front of goal with 13 finishes this season. Messi continues doing impossible Messi things with 13 goals across all competitions and 12 in league play, plus four assists. Then there’s Rodrigo De Paul, who has quietly become one of the most productive midfielders in MLS with 11 goals of his own.
That midfield-to-attack chemistry between Messi and De Paul is becoming one of the defining stories of Miami’s 2026 season.
And opponents are running out of answers.
Even the depth pieces are producing. Mateo Silvetti has added nine goals, giving Miami another dangerous option whenever defenses start collapsing too heavily on Messi.
This is not a one-man team anymore. That’s the scary part.
The Suárez Situation Somehow Keeps Getting Better
Luis Suárez isn’t disappearing anytime soon either.
The veteran striker officially extended his contract through 2026, and the reasoning sounded exactly like something you’d expect from Suárez — he still has the “burning desire to compete” alongside Messi.
At 39 years old, he’s accepted more of a rotational role on a deeper roster, but nobody should mistake that for irrelevance. He’s still capable of changing a game in 20 minutes off the bench, especially against tired defenses late.
And considering his reported salary structure sits around or below $1.5 million, Miami is getting tremendous value from one of the most accomplished forwards of his generation.
You can already picture the reaction inside Chase Stadium if he checks in during the second half tonight.
Miami’s Youth Movement Keeps Growing
One of the more interesting developments this week came away from the spotlight.
Inter Miami officially promoted 20-year-old midfielder Preston Plambeck from the academy setup, signing him through 2026 with club options extending beyond that.
He joins a growing pipeline of homegrown talent that already includes Benjamin Cremaschi and Israel Boatwright.
Nobody expects Plambeck to suddenly become a major contributor overnight, but these are the types of signings that matter long term. Miami is trying to build something deeper than just a superstar retirement project, and developing academy players is part of that process.
Sunday’s match could potentially offer his first opportunity to see minutes with the senior squad.
Why Tonight’s Match Matters More Than It Normally Would
Normally, a mid-May MLS match against Portland might not carry massive weight.
This one does.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup break is approaching quickly, with MLS pausing as the tournament begins across the United States, Canada, and Mexico on June 11. That means every remaining point before the break becomes increasingly valuable.
Miami wants to enter that pause near the top of the Eastern Conference standings with momentum fully intact.
Portland is absolutely capable of causing problems, especially on the road, but this is also the kind of opponent Miami should beat if this recent surge is legitimate.
The biggest question may actually be emotional.
Can Miami maintain the same intensity after pouring so much energy into that Cincinnati comeback? Sometimes teams flatten out after dramatic wins like that. Other times, those matches become launchpads.
Right now, it feels like Miami believes it can overwhelm teams offensively whenever it needs to.
And with Messi in this kind of form, that confidence becomes contagious fast.
Kickoff is set for Sunday at 6:00 PM EDT at Chase Stadium.
Get there early. Because if this team keeps playing like it did in Cincinnati, things could get ridiculous again very quickly.
