Lionel Messi's 2 Goals: Stunning Playoff Clinch

In a dazzling night that reminded everyone why he’s still the maestro of the game, Lionel Messi led Inter Miami to a commanding 4-0 victory over New York City FC, sealing a spot in the 2025 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. The playmaker netted a pair of goals and provided a slick assist, making it clear he’s the engine that drives this team. The match, held under the lights at Citi Field, became a statement victory that the Herons aim to turn into a springboard for a serious push towards the MLS Cup. Miami’s rising momentum and Messi’s magic now open the door to a thrilling postseason run.

The energy crackled as Lionel Messi joined his Inter Miami teammates on the pitch, everyone keenly aware of the moment’s importance. Miami first negotiated a tide of narrow escapes, then on the stroke of halftime, Baltasar Rodríguez seized the match’s first joy. The credit went, of course, to Lionel Messi, who threaded a shade of daylight in which only a teammate could run, sending Rodríguez through with a pass only his feet could paint. The second half, from the first to its last note, belonged to the maestro. In the 74th, with a familiar ring to the event, he slipped the ball to Sergio Busquets at exactly the forward angle they had mastered at Barça.

The midfielder’s perfect ball turned Messi facing onrushing defenders. The chip that followed floated sweetly over the rushing ’keeper, a note of nostalgia in its elegance. Out of the good will that born-smarts forge, he ceded the penalty chance to Luis Suárez, who blasted it past the keeper’s left to add a third. Yet the coda still awaited. Eighty-sixth minute—Lionel Messi started outside the penalty arc, danced through a constellation of defenders like he had once danced through the Calle de Universitätsstraße, and then, with a cool exhalation, finished it from eight yards to send a reverie swirling through the stadium.

For Head Coach Javier Mascherano, reaching the playoffs feels rewarding, but the job isn’t done. “We’re content and calm because the first goal was to qualify. Now we’ll work to finish as high in the table as we can,” Mascherano said, underscoring how securing home-field could pay dividends in the playoffs. He gave special credit to team chemistry, spotlighting Lionel Messi. When Messi chose to let Luis Suárez convert a late chance instead of claiming a hat trick, Mascherano saw a clear message. “He wanted to show that we win as a group and that everyone should be involved,” the coach noted.

Messi’s Historic Season and the MLS Playoff Picture

Thursday’s matchup against NYCFC illustrates the kind of season Lionel Messi is having. His late scoring flurry has served as the engine for Inter Miami’s playoff push, lifting them from the outside looking in to a team that other clubs now see as a looming threat.

Statistical Dominance

Record-Breaking Contributor. Adding yet another two goals and a brilliant assist, Lionel Messi has delivered 37 goal contributions in 2025—24 of those are goals and 13 are assists. This achievement makes him the first MLS player to notch 35-plus goal contributions in back-to-back years.

Golden Boot Leader: Lionel Messi jumped to the top of the MLS scoring race, now boasting 24 goals. He is two goals ahead of LAFC’s Denis Bouanga, who has 22, as they chase the Golden Boot.

Multi-Goal Phenomenon: Lionel Messi recorded his league-high eighth multi-goal game, matching the MLS record for the most in a single season.

The Road to the MLS Cup

Playoff planning starts now that a berth is clinched. The Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs roll out a wider setup this year, allowing the top nine squads in each conference to advance. Mark these essential dates:

Round	Dates
Decision Day	Saturday, October 18
Wild Card Matches	Wednesday, October 22
Round One Best-of-3 Series	Friday, October 24 – Sunday, November 9
Conference Semifinals	Saturday, November 22 – Sunday, November 23
Conference Finals	Saturday, November 29 – Sunday, November 30
MLS Cup	Saturday, December 6

Inter Miami sits in third in the Eastern Conference with 55 points from 29 matches. The club is not merely happy to be in the dance; the goal is to defend the Supporters’ Shield. The squad has two games in hand on the East’s leading Philadelphia Union (60 points) and FC Cincinnati (58 points), giving them a clear, though demanding, roadmap. Coach Mascherano stated, “If we can win the five remaining games that we have, it will be great and we’ll have that chance to fight for the Supporters’ Shield.”

Securing the Supporters’ Shield is vital, because the top finish gives a team home-field advantage for the knockout stage of playoffs—an edge no team wants to pass on.

For Lionel Messi and Inter Miami, this season is about making things right. Fans still remember the stunning early exit against Atlanta United in the 2024 playoffs, a shock the league will talk about for years. The team’s recent winning streak, combined with Messi’s swagger on the ball, shows they’ve turned the disappointment into motivation. Lionel Messi, Suárez, and Busquets have an instant connection that’s pure gold, blending skill and smarts no other team can match. While Messi keeps scoring like he’s years younger, the buzz in Miami is keeping this magic alive right through December.

Looking Ahead

Inter Miami is headed to Toronto this Saturday for what is sure to be another high-stakes matchup. With Lionel Messi riding a wave of brilliant performances, the Herons aim to push their winning streak to new heights and tighten their grip on the Eastern Conference. Every single point counts in the crowded race for the Supporters’ Shield, and Messi’s influence will be more important than ever. While the team has locked in a playoff spot, the road is only getting tougher. The thirst for an MLS Cup trophy is the motivator that propels Messi and the entire squad wholeheartedly into this final sprint, and Saturday is simply the first checkpoint in this decisive stretch.