Sports
Messi’s Brace Powers Inter Miami’s 4-2 Comeback Over Orlando City
Inter Miami CF produced a stunning second-half comeback to defeat rivals Orlando City SC 4-2 at Inter&Co Stadium, inspired by a brilliant brace and assist from Lionel Messi.
Miami trailed 2-0 at halftime after a sluggish first-half display, with Orlando capitalising on defensive lapses to seize control of the derby clash. However, the visitors emerged after the break with renewed intensity and completely flipped the script.
Messi ignited the turnaround, scoring his first two goals of the 2026 MLS season and assisting another as Miami struck four times in a dominant second-half performance.
The Argentine maestro’s second goal a trademark free kick ultimately sealed the victory. Curling the ball beyond the wall and into the net, Messi registered his 70th career goal from a direct free kick and remarkably extended his 19-year streak of scoring from free kicks in every season.
After finding the net, Messi made a playful signing gesture toward the bench of Orlando head coach Oscar Pareja, a moment that quickly went viral on social media. The gesture sparked humorous speculation among fans about possible halftime exchanges, though no official comments confirmed any confrontation.
Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano praised his team’s resilience and leadership after the match.
“We showed character, personality and belief,” Mascherano said. “When you have a player like Leo, anything is possible.”
The result not only secured bragging rights in the Florida derby but also provided a major confidence boost for Miami early in the MLS campaign.
With Messi now off the mark for the season, Inter Miami will hope the comeback serves as a launching pad for a strong run in the weeks ahead.
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