Lionel Messi Scores Twice as Inter Miami Rallies Past Cincinnati 5-3

German Berterame scored the decisive goal in the 84th minute after a collision between Cincinnati's goalkeeper and defender allowed the ball to spill into the net. The result marked Inter Miami's fifth consecutive away victory in MLS and seventh straight road win across all competitions.

The team improved to 7-2-4 with 25 points while Cincinnati fell to 4-5-4 with 16 points.

Silvetti leveled the score at 3-3 in the 79th minute on a goal set up by Messi following a Cincinnati turnover. Silvetti cut inside from the left side of the penalty area and guided a low shot through traffic into the bottom right corner. Five minutes later Berterame put Miami ahead for good.

Messi delivered a diagonal free kick toward the top of the six-yard box that Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano appeared set to catch, but center back Andrei Chirila collided with him, causing a fumble that Berterame finished into an open net. Messi nearly completed a hat-trick in the 89th minute when he ran onto Silvetti's cross and drove a sliding finish that struck the inside of the right post.

The ball bounced off Celentano and over the line, but officials ruled it an own goal by the goalkeeper.

Messi opened the scoring in the 24th minute by pressuring Cincinnati center back Matt Miazga and deflecting an ill-advised pass into an open net. Miazga had been positioned to clear the ball for a corner instead. Cincinnati responded with goals from Kevin Denkey, who scored his eighth of the season and added two assists, and Evander, who struck in the 64th minute for a 3-2 lead.

Pavel Bucha also scored for the hosts. Messi's second goal came in the 55th minute on a conventional finish. He ran onto a cross from Rodrigo de Paul at the penalty spot after combination play that included Luis Suarez, leveling the match at 2-2.

The match was a rematch of the 2025 Eastern Conference semifinals in which Inter Miami recorded a 4-0 victory over Cincinnati. Both sides featured strong attacking play, with de Paul recording two assists and Silvetti contributing an assist in addition to his goal.

Cincinnati saw its six-match unbeaten run end and has now conceded three or more goals in five of its nine games this season. Inter Miami continued a strong stretch of road form that has seen consistent success away from home.