Lionel Messi delivered a decisive brace to hand Inter Miami a 3-2 comeback victory over the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer on Saturday, sealing the win with a late solo goal in front of one of the largest crowds in the competition's history.
Played at Empower Field in Denver, Colorado, the match drew 75,824 spectators — the second-largest crowd ever recorded in MLS. Inter Miami took an early lead in the 18th minute when Colorado goalkeeper Zack Steffen's misplaced pass was intercepted, leading to a penalty that Messi converted by rolling the ball straight down the middle. Miami extended their advantage to 2-0 just before half-time, with German Berterame heading home a cross from Mateo Silvetti after a flowing move that Messi helped initiate with a sharp touch pass to Rodrigo De Paul.
Colorado, however, refused to yield. Rafael Navarro cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 58th minute with a composed finish inside the box, and just four minutes later second-half substitute Darren Yapi levelled with a crisp shot past Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair. The Rapids' equaliser set up a tense finale, but Messi proved the difference. In the 79th minute, the Argentine forward picked up the ball just inside his own half, carried it unchallenged all the way to the penalty area, and struck a powerful shot into the upper left corner to restore Miami's lead at 3-2. Miami then held on despite finishing the match with ten men after Yannick Bright received a red card in the 87th minute.
The result leaves Inter Miami — the Florida-based club co-owned by former England captain David Beckham — with a record of four wins, one defeat and three draws, placing them among the stronger sides in the Eastern Conference this season. Colorado sit at 4-4-0.
The match comes at a complicated moment for Messi off the pitch. A Miami-based event promoter, VID Music Group, filed a lawsuit against the 38-year-old star and the Argentine Football Association in late March, alleging breach of contract and fraud related to a friendly match last October. The lawsuit claims Messi failed to play in Argentina's victory over Venezuela, despite a contractual obligation to appear for at least 30 minutes. Messi has not publicly responded to the allegations. On the field, however, Saturday's performance offered a timely reminder of why his presence continues to draw record crowds wherever he plays.