In what has become a weekly spectacle, Lionel Messi turned in yet another vintage performance as Inter Miami dismantled the New York Red Bulls 5-1 on Saturday night at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey. The Argentine icon’s sixth brace in his last seven games further cemented his status as the most dominant player in Major League Soccer this season, fueling Inter Miami’s push up the Eastern Conference table.
### Early Scare Turned Into Spectacle
The match didn’t start according to script for the visitors. Red Bulls defender Alexander Hack opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a powerful header off an Emil Forsberg corner, giving the home side an early—and short-lived—lead. That initial momentum was all the Red Bulls would enjoy, as Messi quickly took over proceedings.
In the 24th minute, Messi floated an exquisite through ball to long-time teammate Jordi Alba, who smashed home the equalizer. It was a moment of classic Messi sorcery—vision, timing, precision—and a reminder of the telepathic connection between two former Barcelona stars now rewriting the script in MLS.
### The Messi Show Takes Over
Messi’s magical assist was only the beginning. Three minutes later, he played a key role in the build-up to Telasco Segovia’s go-ahead goal, registering a secondary assist as Miami seized control of the game. But the highlight reel wasn’t complete.
In the second half, Messi added two more goals to his ever-growing tally. His first came in the 60th minute when he calmly rounded Red Bulls goalkeeper Carlos Coronel and slotted the ball into an open net. His second came courtesy of Luis Suárez, whose whipped cross found Messi inside the box for a clinical finish that put an exclamation point on a masterful display.
With 18 goals and 12 assists this season, Messi now leads MLS in both categories—a feat that defies age, expectations, and even gravity at times.
### Record-Breaking Consistency
Beyond the 5-1 victory and Messi’s statistical heroics, this match was yet another landmark moment for the 37-year-old living legend. The brace took Messi to 30 direct goal contributions for the 2025 MLS season—stretching his mind-boggling record of achieving at least 30 goal contributions every calendar year since 2006.
That’s 19 consecutive years of elite-level output across three decades, two continents, and no shortage of silverware.
### Team Chemistry Reaching New Heights
The resurgence of Jordi Alba, the link-up with Suárez, and the growing partnerships with younger talents like Segovia highlight the gelling chemistry within Inter Miami’s squad. The Herons have now won six of their last seven and sit within striking distance of clinching the top seed in the East.
Their only blemish in recent weeks was a 3-0 midweek setback against FC Cincinnati—a result that clearly lit a fire under Gerardo “Tata” Martino’s star-studded squad.
### Looking Ahead
With the form Messi is in, and his supporting cast settling into top gear, Inter Miami are emerging as serious contenders—not just for the MLS playoffs but for the MLS Cup itself. For the Red Bulls, the defeat serves as a stark reminder of the gap that still exists between good teams and all-time greats led by the GOAT.
As Messi continues his incredible streak, setting both the pace and the standard for excellence, one question remains on every defender’s mind in MLS:
**How do you stop Lionel Me
ssi? So far, no one has the answer.**
