Lionel Messi's Brace Helps Inter Miami Win MLS Playoff Tickets

Lionel Messi helped Inter Miami get tickets for the 2025 MLS Playoff (Instagram/@intermimatif).

JAKARTA - Lionel Messi led Inter Miami CF, scoring twice in the second half to add his goal collection to five in the last nine days, ensuring a 4-0 win over New York City FC on Thursday, September 25, 2025 in the morning WIB, at Citi Field.

The result brings Inter Miami to confirm a place in the Playoff Major League Soccer 2025.

Miami head coach Javier Mascherano stressed that the team had achieved an important goal, but it was just the first step for the club to ambition to repeat success as Supporters' Shield champions.

"We are happy and feeling calm because we have achieved our first goal of qualifying for the playoffs. Now we will try to finish as high as possible in the standings, which will give us the advantage of playing at home," Mascherano said.

Messi had a chance to score a hat trick when Inter Miami got a penalty in the 83rd minute, but the Herons captain opted to give his old teammate Luis Suarez a chance.

"He's done that too often in his career. Sometimes he sees some of his teammates who haven't scored and need goals more than himself."

"He's trying to help in this way. For me, this is great. He's trying to show the team spirit to everyone, trying to involve all the players and players who might be in this case Luis, who needed goals. So, this is great," Mascherano said.

Messi has scored twice or more in eight of Inter Miami's last 12 games, being the fourth player in MLS history to score more than eight goals in just eight games in a season.

The team will now focus on the match against Toronto FC on Sunday, September 28, 2025 WIB, as Inter Miami seeks to secure Supporters' Shield 2025.

"We are happy because now we have officially qualified for the playoffs. That is very important for us. Now we have to move on."

"We know, we still have two games left. So, we'll try to rest and recover before leaving for Toronto."

"We know how difficult it will be Sunday's game is because we only have less than 72 hours to play."

"However, we will try our best to win the game and qualify for the highest possible position."

"If we can win the remaining five games, it will be amazing. We will have the opportunity to fight for Supporters' Shield," Mascherano said.

Inter Miami is in third place in the Eastern Region standings with 55 points in 29 matches, two games adrift of leaders Philadelphia Union.