On a chilly Sunday night in Cincinnati, Lionel Messi didn’t just play football—he rewrote history. The 38-year-old Argentine legend scored one goal and delivered three assists as Inter Miami CF crushed FC Cincinnati 4-0 in the Eastern Conference semifinal of the MLS Cup PlayoffsTQL Stadium, advancing to their first-ever Eastern Conference final. With 12 total goal contributions in the 2025 postseason—six goals, six assists—Messi shattered the previous MLS playoff record, a mark that had stood since 2018. The win, witnessed by 25,513 fans in the rain-dampened stands of Cincinnati, wasn’t just a victory. It was a statement.
How Messi Broke the Record
Messi’s first goal came in the 19th minute, a crisp header off a low cross from Mateo Silvetti, ending a three-match scoring drought against Cincinnati. It wasn’t flashy, but it was clinical—exactly what you’d expect from a player who’s spent two decades turning pressure into poetry. Nine minutes later, he had a clear chance to double the lead, but his curling shot from six yards missed the far post by inches. Fans held their breath. Then came the magic.
In the 62nd minute, Messi received the ball near the halfway line, feinted left, and slipped a pass through two defenders like a surgeon’s scalpel. Thiago Almeyda (known in some reports as Tadeo Allende) sprinted onto it, slotted it past Roman Celentano, and the stadium fell silent. Forty minutes later, Messi did it again—this time with a diagonal ball that split the defense, and Almeyda buried his second. The fourth goal wasn’t officially credited to Messi, but his vision created the opening: a defense-splitting pass to Rodrigo De Paul that was poorly finished. Even when he didn’t score, he dictated the game.
FC Cincinnati’s Collapse
FC Cincinnati entered this match with the second-best regular-season record in MLS, having won the 2024 Supporters’ Shield and boasting captain Evander da Silva Ferreira, who earned 12 Team of the Matchday honors this season—the most in club history. They were expected to be tough. But from the first whistle, they looked out of sync. Their best chance came when Ender Echenique’s header found Evander, who blasted over the bar from eight yards. After that, the pressure never returned.
"Tough night to end this way," said Pat Noonan, Cincinnati’s 44-year-old head coach, after the final whistle. "Credit to Miami. They were better tonight. To the fans, sorry how it ended. You have to own it." His words carried the weight of a team that came close, but couldn’t match the level of genius on the other side.
Why This Matters Beyond the Scoreline
This wasn’t just about Messi breaking a record. It was about Inter Miami CF—a club founded in 2018 by David Beckham—finally proving it could win the big games. Before this playoff run, they were seen as a star-studded exhibition team. Now, they’re a contender. They’ve scored three or more goals in nine of their last 11 matches, with Messi accounting for 15 goals in that span alone.
The club’s headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida may be far from the Ohio cold, but their impact is national. This win sets up a showdown with either the Philadelphia Union or New York City FC in the Eastern Conference final, with the MLS Cup final scheduled for December 6, 2025. For the first time, the trophy feels within reach.
History Repeats—But This Time, It’s Different
Just 16 months ago, Cincinnati beat Inter Miami 3-0 at this very stadium. Messi was on the pitch but couldn’t break through. Then, in July 2024, the teams played to a 0-0 draw in Fort Lauderdale—Messi didn’t even play. But this time? Everything changed. The playbook was different. The stakes were higher. And Messi? He was playing with the calm of a man who’s seen it all—and still finds new ways to dominate.
The broader MLS playoff picture is shifting, too. Vancouver Whitecaps advanced on penalties against LAFC on Saturday, while San Diego FC and Minnesota United FC are set to clash on Monday. But none of those games will carry the weight of this one. Because when Messi is on the field, the game doesn’t just change—it becomes something bigger.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Messi’s 12-goal contribution record compare to past MLS playoff stars?
Messi’s 12 goal contributions (6 goals, 6 assists) in the 2025 playoffs surpass the previous record of 10, set by Carlos Vela in 2018. Before Messi, no player had ever reached double digits in a single postseason. Even legends like Zlatan Ibrahimović and Diego Valeri came close but never exceeded 9. This puts Messi ahead of every MLS player in history—not just in volume, but in efficiency, with 12 contributions in just five playoff games.
Why is Inter Miami’s advancement to the Eastern Conference final historic?
Founded in 2018, Inter Miami had never won a playoff series before this year. Their only prior playoff appearance was in 2022, when they were eliminated in the first round. This run—backed by Messi’s dominance and a balanced attack—marks the first time the club has reached the conference final. It transforms them from a celebrity project into a legitimate championship threat, validating the investment from Beckham and the front office.
What does this mean for FC Cincinnati’s future?
Despite the loss, Cincinnati’s 2025 season was one of their best ever. They finished second in the league and reached the conference semifinals for the second straight year. But their defensive lapses against elite attackers exposed a flaw. With captain Evander under contract through 2027 and coach Noonan’s future uncertain, the club now faces a critical offseason: rebuild defensively or risk falling behind the league’s rising powers like Philadelphia and New York City.
Is Messi still capable of carrying a team at 38?
Absolutely. In his last five MLS playoff matches, Messi has scored 6 goals and provided 6 assists. He’s averaging a goal or assist every 56 minutes this postseason. At 38, he’s not the sprinter he was at 25—but his spatial awareness, passing range, and decision-making are sharper than ever. He’s not just keeping up with MLS—he’s redefining what’s possible for a player his age in any league.
When and where is Inter Miami’s next match?
Inter Miami will face the winner of the Philadelphia Union vs. New York City FC semifinal, which concludes on November 27, 2025. The Eastern Conference final is scheduled for the following weekend, likely December 1 or 2, at Inter Miami’s home ground, Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. A win there sends them to the MLS Cup final on December 6, 2025, at a yet-to-be-announced neutral site.
Has any other player ever had a performance like Messi’s in a single playoff game?
In MLS history, no player has ever recorded a goal and three assists in a single playoff match. The closest was Carlos Ruiz in 2004 with 2 goals and 2 assists. In global soccer, only a handful—like Messi himself in the 2014 World Cup and Diego Maradona in 1986—have matched that level of dominance in knockout games. This performance ranks among the greatest individual playoff displays in modern professional soccer history.