For the third time this season, Inter Miami squared off against Orlando City, and this time the men in pink refused to let history repeat itself. After two humbling defeats at the hands of their rivals, Miami delivered a statement performance in the Leagues Cup semifinal, fueled by a vintage Lionel Messi display that reminded everyone why he is still the sport’s biggest showman.
With all of Miami’s stars back in the lineup, Chase Stadium roared to life as Messi, returning from a hamstring injury, scored twice in an electric 11-minute span late in the second half. His brace flipped the match on its head and set Miami on course for a 3-1 victory, capped off by a stoppage-time strike from Telasco Segovia. The result not only sends Miami to Sunday’s final against the Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field but also secures their place in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup.
The night began nervously for Miami. Orlando looked confident and snatched the lead just before halftime through Marco Pašalić’s thunderous left-footed finish, silencing the home crowd. At that point, the narrative of another Orlando triumph loomed large. But with the game hanging in the balance, substitute Tadeo Allende’s burst into the box changed everything. Tugged down by David Brekalo, Allende won a penalty that saw Brekalo sent off with a second yellow. Messi calmly buried the spot kick in the 77th minute, sparking pandemonium in the stands and a hug-filled celebration with his sons by the field-level suites.
Messi wasn’t done. Eleven minutes later, he combined beautifully with Jordi Alba on a quick give-and-go before slotting home the go-ahead goal. The stadium erupted as pink smoke drifted into the night sky, the rivalry tilted back Miami’s way. Segovia then added the exclamation point in stoppage time, finishing off an assist from Luis Suárez to seal the victory.
Orlando coach Óscar Pareja voiced his frustration afterward, arguing that Brekalo’s first yellow card was undeserved and that his team should have been awarded a penalty for contact on Iván Angulo. “Certain decisions and actions outside the game affected the team,” he said, lamenting how officiating shaped the match’s momentum.
But this was Messi’s night, and Miami assistant coach Javi Morales—on the sideline for suspended head coach Javier Mascherano—had little interest in the controversy. “We are at a loss of words when it comes to discussing Leo,” Morales said. “He trained only two or three days, played 90 minutes, and gave us everything. For us, and for the fans, it’s a privilege to have him.”
Mascherano, forced to watch from a team box high above due to his red card suspension, still influenced the match with halftime tactical changes. His bold move to replace a center back with Segovia while trailing proved decisive, giving Miami an attacking edge that broke Orlando’s resistance.
The rivalry between the clubs has always been fierce, intensified by off-field incidents and heated matchups over the years. This semifinal, with a trophy final on the line, was perhaps the most charged chapter yet. Orlando had outscored Miami 7-1 in their two prior league meetings this season, but Messi and company flipped the script when it mattered most.
For Miami, the mission was simple: avoid a third straight defeat to their biggest rival. Mission accomplished—thanks to Messi. Now, one win away from lifting the Leagues Cup for the second time in three years, the Herons will look to finish the job in Seattle.
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