Messi delivers a late-career MLS clinic with a 2-goal, 1-assist performance that directly drives Inter Miami’s win over Philadelphia, dominating the attack across the full 90 minutes.
Against his favored victims Racing Santander, Messi meets a bouncing ball with a crisp right-foot half-volley that skips through the crowded box to seal a 3–0 win and bring up La Liga goal number 129 in his career tally of 214.
From a tight early angle at 0–0, Messi calmly lifts Iniesta’s pass over the Racing keeper with a delicate right-foot lob, breaking the deadlock for his 89th La Liga goal and the eventual winner.
With Argentina’s World Cup hopes under intense scrutiny, Messi latches onto Éver Banega’s perfect assist to break the deadlock against Nigeria, restoring belief on the biggest stage with his sixth World Cup goal and 617th of his career.
Retaking the lead at 2–2, Messi meets Fàbregas’ pass with a difficult right-foot half-volley, catching it sweetly as it rises and driving it past Villarreal to secure the 3–2 win and his 390th career goal.