Lionel Messi showed up in Cincinnati looking like a man already locked in for the World Cup, and somehow even that description still undersells what unfolded Wednesday night at TQL Stadium.
Inter Miami stormed back from a late deficit to beat FC Cincinnati 5-3 in one of the wildest MLS matches of the season — a game packed with defensive meltdowns, eight total goals, and another ridiculous Messi performance that left Cincinnati fans stunned and Miami fans wondering if this team is peaking at exactly the right time.The match had everything. Early pressure. Momentum swings. Goalkeeping disasters. A near Messi hat trick. And then, in the final 11 minutes, absolute chaos.
Miami struck first in the 24th minute after a brutal mistake from Matt Miazga handed Messi an opening he rarely misses. Cincinnati responded before halftime when Kevin Denkey buried a penalty to level things at 1-1, and the home side came out flying after the break. Pavel Bucha made it 2-1 in the 49th minute, and suddenly Miami looked shaky defensively again.
Then Messi did what Messi does.
In the 55th minute, Rodrigo De Paul slipped him into space and Messi calmly finished to tie the match at 2-2. But Cincinnati wasn’t done. Evander blasted home a stunning strike in the 64th minute to restore the lead, and with the clock ticking under 15 minutes remaining, it looked like Cincinnati might actually survive the Miami attack.
That’s when the entire game flipped.
In the 79th minute, Messi threaded a perfect pass into the box for substitute Mateo Silvetti, who cut inside and buried the equalizer through traffic. Five minutes later, another Messi set piece caused complete panic in the Cincinnati defense. Andrei Chirila collided with goalkeeper Roman Celentano while trying to clear the ball, spilling it directly to German Berterame for an easy finish into an open net. Just like that, Miami led 4-3.
Then came the almost-hat trick moment.
In the 89th minute, Messi ripped a shot off the inside of the post. The ball ricocheted off Celentano and rolled across the line. For a few seconds it looked like career hat trick number 61 for Messi. Instead, the goal was officially ruled a Celentano own goal, denying him the match ball but not the spotlight.
Messi still finished with two goals and an assist, pushing his MLS season totals to 11 goals and 4 assists. Over his last three matches alone, he’s produced four goals and five assists while looking sharper every week ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
And this wasn’t just another regular season win for Miami.
The Herons have now extended their road winning streak and continue climbing the Eastern Conference table, sitting just two points behind Nashville SC with only two matches left before the World Cup break. More importantly, they’re finding ways to win matches even when things get messy defensively.
For Cincinnati, this one is going to sting.
The loss snapped their six-match unbeaten run and exposed the same defensive problems that have haunted them repeatedly this season. It marked the fifth time in nine games they’ve conceded at least three goals, and incredibly, it was the first loss under Pat Noonan in 64 matches when leading after the 75th minute.
Denkey was excellent with a goal and two assists. Evander’s strike was one of the best goals of the night. But the defensive collapse late in the match completely erased all of it.
As for Messi, the scary part for the rest of MLS is this: he doesn’t even look like he’s slowing down. If anything, he looks fresher, sharper, and more dangerous every match.
The hat trick didn’t count Wednesday night.
Everything else did.
