Messi Shines as Inter Miami Beat Seattle to Climb to Fifth in MLS East

 

Lionel Messi delivered another decisive performance as Inter Miami defeated the Seattle Sounders 3-1 in Major League Soccer. The 38-year-old Argentine star created the opener for Jordi Alba in the 12th minute, before scoring himself in the 41st off Alba’s assist to give Miami a comfortable 2-0 halftime lead. American defender Ian Fray extended the advantage in the 52nd minute, while Mexican midfielder Obed Vargas pulled one back for Seattle with a header in the 69th minute.

The match carried added weight, coming just weeks after Seattle beat Miami 3-0 in the Leagues Cup final, a clash that ended in a brawl involving Inter striker Luis Suarez. Suarez, who spat at a Sounders staff member, has since apologized and was handed a three-match suspension by MLS alongside a ban from the 2026 Leagues Cup. Serving the second game of his ban, he missed the latest contest.

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Miami’s coach Javier Mascherano praised his team’s response, noting they approached the game with determination and composure against a strong rival.

The win proved crucial for Inter Miami’s playoff push. After a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Charlotte on Saturday, they bounced back strongly against Seattle to rise from eighth to fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Miami now holds a 14-6 record with seven draws, sitting on 49 points, only eight behind leaders Philadelphia while holding three games in hand. Coach Javier Mascherano set ambitious targets, saying the team will treat their final seven games as “finals” with the aim of winning all of them to finish atop the conference.

Seattle, meanwhile, slipped in the Western Conference standings. Their record fell to 12 wins, eight losses, and nine draws, leaving them on 45 points and just one point clear of Los Angeles FC in fifth. The Sounders, who looked dominant in the Leagues Cup final, could not replicate that form against a motivated Miami side boosted by Messi’s brilliance.

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With Messi and Alba continuing to link up effectively and Suarez set to return from suspension, Miami looks poised for a strong finish to the season and a possible top spot in the East.