Messi’s first big chance comes when he runs onto a pass from Sergio Busquets and clips a left‑footed shot from the center of the box off the right post, the ball rebounding out instead of in. It’s a razor‑thin miss that signals the danger he’ll pose all night.

Moments after hitting the post, Messi opens the scoring, pouncing on the loose ball in the center of the box and drilling a right‑footed shot into the middle of the net to make it 1–0 Inter Miami.

Messi slips a clever pass into the left side of the box for Josef Martínez, whose left‑footed strike whistles just over the top‑left corner, a dangerous chance created by Messi’s vision.

Receiving a layoff from Josef Martínez, Messi unleashes a left‑footed shot from outside the box that is well‑struck but saved by Brad Guzan in the center of the goal.

Messi doubles the lead, timing his run perfectly to meet Robert Taylor’s pass in the center of the box and calmly side‑footing a right‑footed shot into the bottom‑right corner for 2–0.

Messi threads a through ball for Josef Martínez that sends him clear, but the move is cut short when Martínez is flagged offside, nullifying the chance created by Messi.

Sergio Busquets looks for Messi with a trademark through ball, sending him in behind, but the attack is stopped when Messi is ruled offside as he breaks the defensive line.

On a rapid counterattack, Messi leads the break and releases Robert Taylor into the left side of the box, where Taylor lashes a left‑footed shot into the bottom‑right corner to make it 4–0, with Messi credited for the assist.

Messi’s night ends in the 78th minute as he is substituted off to warm applause, with Robbie Robinson coming on to replace him for the closing stages.