At the TQL stadium, the captain of Inter Miami had the most brilliant performance since the beginning of the season when playing a full 90 minutes, scoring 3 goals, assisting 1 time and directly contributing to all 5 goals of the away team. According to Sofascore, the Argentine superstar was rated 10 points.
Messi opened the score in the 24th minute after a pressing situation that made center-back Matt Miazga clumsily clear the ball, sending the ball hitting his leg and changing direction straight into the net.
However, FC Cincinnati quickly responded when Kevin Denkey equalized 1-1 from the penalty spot before Pavel Bucha helped the home team take a 2-1 lead right at the beginning of the second half.
In a difficult game, Messi continued to speak up in the 55th minute. From Rodrigo De Paul's favorable cross, the 38-year-old striker finished in one touch, equalizing the score 2-2.
In the 74th minute, Evander restored Cincinnati's advantage. But just 5 minutes later, Messi assisted Mateo Silvetti to score the equalizer 3-3.
Inter Miami's continuous pressure was then concretized by a goal from German Berterame, before Messi completed a hat-trick in the 89th minute with a close-range finish, sealing a 5-3 victory for the away team.
This performance helped Messi increase his career total hat-tricks to 62, while reaching 910 goals and 411 assists. In the MLS season this year alone, he has scored 12 goals and had 4 assists after 11 matches.
Messi's sublime form comes in the context that the 2026 World Cup is less than a month away from kicking off. Although not officially confirmed to participate, the captain of the Argentine national team is still named in the preliminary list of 55 players that coach Lionel Scaloni sent to FIFA.
