Inter Miami faces the biggest game in club history this Sunday evening, as the Herons take the field in their first-ever Conference Semifinal with a chance to move one step closer to the MLS Cup. At the center of it all is Lionel Messi, who will look to deliver one of his finest performances since arriving in Fort Lauderdale.
The stakes couldn’t be higher: 90 minutes—or possibly extra time if the score remains level—will decide Miami’s fate. This is the moment the franchise envisioned when it built its ambitious project around Messi, trusting the Argentine superstar to guide them on the field.
Messi’s challenge against Cincinnati
Messi enters this matchup carrying significant responsibility. While he was instrumental in Miami’s victory over Nashville to reach this stage, Cincinnati has proven to be one of his toughest opponents in MLS.
Since joining Inter Miami, Messi has only played three times against the Ohio club, missing another three meetings due to injury. Without him, Miami struggled, winning just once in those six encounters.
Even when Messi has been on the pitch, the record hasn’t been favorable. In two MLS meetings, Miami fell short both times. The lone victory came in the US Open Cup, where Messi delivered two assists in a dramatic 7–8 penalty shootout win.
Breaking the streak
Those MLS defeats—one in 2023 and another earlier this season—both saw Messi held scoreless. Now, with Miami chasing history, the World Cup champion will be determined to break through against Cincinnati and erase that frustrating streak.