Messi's 83rd-minute winner gives Inter Miami 2-1 comeback win at New England

Late winner completes comeback at Foxborough

New England Revolution led 1-0 after 53 minutes through a goal from Hungarian midfielder Dániel Gazdag, following a goalless first half. Inter Miami, the reigning champions, responded in the 69th minute when Lionel Messi, 39, sent a headed cross to German Berterame, who headed home to make it 1-1. Miami were behind after Gazdag's goal, and Messi was involved in both goals that turned the match around. In the 83rd minute he cut inside, got past defenders and beat the New England goalkeeper with a left-footed shot to make it 2-1.

Messi's season and career figures

Messi's goal was his 26th of the MLS regular season, which keeps him top of the league scoring chart, four ahead of Croatian Petar Musa of FC Dallas, a former Benfica player. He has added 14 assists in 30 games this season. Across 2026 he has 41 goals and 22 assists in 47 matches, including eight goals and four assists in the final phase of the World Cup. Those numbers gave him fifth place in the Ballon d'Or vote, which England's Harry Kane won. Including his senior career with Argentina's under-20 and under-23 teams and Barcelona's B and C sides, Messi has 964 goals and 444 assists, 1,408 direct goal contributions, in 1,239 games.

MLS goals this season26

MLS assists this season14

Goals in 202641

Assists in 202622

MLS goals this season

26

MLS assists this season

14

Goals in 2026

41

Assists in 2026

22

Data from the article text

Standings and the Concacaf place

The 2-1 result was Miami's 16th win of the season and its tenth away win, three more than any other team. Sunday's game was the 33rd and penultimate round of the regular season. Miami now have 59 points, one more than New England, who have dropped to third with 58 and have one round left. The win also secured Miami a place in next year's Concacaf Champions Cup, a competition staged across North and Central America and the Caribbean, and the winner of that tournament qualifies for the FIFA Club World Cup. Head coach Cristian Gonzalez said he had no doubt that Messi is the best player of all, and that in his view Messi has earned both the MLS MVP award and the Ballon d'Or.

Elsewhere in the league

Robert Lewandowski also found the net for Chicago Fire, who beat Colorado Rapids 4-2, with the 38-year-old's goal putting Chicago 3-2 ahead in the 74th minute. It was his first goal after eight consecutive games without scoring, and he has seven goals this season. Chicago are fourth in the Eastern Conference, behind Miami and New England, while Nashville SC top the table in the East. The former Bundesliga striker's return to scoring came in a result that did not change the top of the conference.