Inter Miami didn’t wait for the season’s final push to lock in a playoff spot. With five games still to go, Lionel Messi’s team made it official in style, hammering New York City FC 4-0 away from home. Messi ran the show, scoring twice, adding an assist, and moving to the top of the Golden Boot race. Luis Suárez, back after suspension, found the net as well, while Baltasar Rodríguez had already set the tone with the opener.
The win lifted Miami into third place in the Eastern Conference with 55 points, just five behind leaders Philadelphia Union and with two games in hand. It not only secures Javier Mascherano’s side in the postseason, it also keeps alive the dream of finishing at the very top of the overall standings.
Messi decisive with remarkable numbers
Once again, Messi was the difference. His assist for Rodríguez in the first half was already his 13th of the season. He then scored Miami’s second and fourth goals, pushing his tally to 24 in league play. That also gave him eight multi-goal matches this year, something only three other players have managed in MLS history.
Each game widens the gap between him and the rest of the league. And it isn’t just numbers. His presence changes the way Miami plays, the way they believe. Last season they finished first overall but stumbled in the playoffs. This time, with No. 10 in peak form, the feeling is that the story could be very different.
Suárez back, Busquets in command
Messi wasn’t the only headline. Luis Suárez returned from a three-match ban for spitting at an opponent and calmly tucked away a penalty for Miami’s third. It was his seventh goal of the campaign, a reminder that, discipline aside, he remains an important weapon in attack.
Sergio Busquets also left his mark. The veteran midfielder collected two assists, bringing his season total to nine. His connection with Messi was clear in the second goal, slipping in a perfect ball that led to the Argentine’s delicate finish.
The memory of last year’s early playoff exit still lingers, but the message from this performance was strong. With Messi leading, Suárez adding depth, and Busquets pulling strings, Miami look like a team ready to aim higher than ever before.