Lionel Messi scores two goals to take MLS lead, fuels Inter Miami 3-1 win over Nashville

There’s a new leading scorer in Major League Soccer, and his name is Lionel Messi.

The Argentine World Cup champion scored two goals and delivered a stellar assist to lead Inter Miami to a 3-1 victory over Nashville SC on Saturday night at Chase Stadium.

Messi’s brace gives him seven goals in MLS play this season, leading all other players in the league – even his teammate Luis Suarez, who was tied with five other players in the league with six goals.

Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, has scored nine goals in nine games he’s played across all competitions this season.

His first goal came 11 minutes into the match after the team fell behind 1-0, and he punctuated the victory with a penalty kick score in the 81st minute.

“I think it was a crucial moment, not only because of the equalizer, but also because we started to discover … every time we found the ball in [the midfield], we did damage and we could score,” Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said of Messi’s first goal and how it led to Inter Miami’s opportunities in the win.

Messi, in his fourth consecutive game since returning from a right hamstring injury, quickly lined up in position for his penalty kick after Nashville’s Josh Bauer pushed Inter Miami’s Leo Afonso from behind in the penalty area.

And Messi did what Messi does, striking his left boot into the lower right corner of the net with no hesitation.

Messi saw Inter Miami fall behind 1-0 two minutes into their match thanks to an own goal, and responded quickly with a sliding left kick into the back of the net for his first goal in the 11^th minute.

Messi’s goal came from an assist from Suárez, who was in the right place in the right time, rebounding Messi’s miss and delivering a pass to his feet to tie the match early.

Messi also shined with a stellar corner kick that found his longtime Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets, who scored a header goal in the 39^th minute. It was Busquets’ first Inter Miami goal since he joined the club with Messi last summer.

Inter Miami maintains its lead with 18 points in the MLS Eastern Conference, but Martino knows early points will carry the club when Messi departs for Copa America this summer eight games from now.

“Eighteen points is much more than what we could have had last year at this point,” Martino said. “We will be achieving the objective of accumulating points now so that the second part of the year is not as demanding and as dramatic as it was last year."

Messi scores penalty kick goal: Inter Miami 3, Nashville 1

Lionel Messi lined up for a penalty kick, and scored in the 81^st minute to help Inter Miami increase its lead 3-1 against Nashville.

The opportunity was created when Nashville’s Josh Bauer pushed Inter Miami’s Leo Afonso from behind in the penalty area.

And Messi did what Messi does, striking his left boot into the lower right corner of the net with no hesitation.

Sergio Busquets goal: Inter Miami 2, Nashville 1

Well, a lot to digest if you’re watching along. But Messi’s corner kick has led to a header goal by Sergio Busquets in the 39^th minute to give Inter Miami a 2-1 lead.

It’s Busquets’ first goal in an Inter Miami jersey since joining Messi on the squad last summer.

But a more pressing issue: Inter Miami’s Diego Gomez is leaving the game with a right foot injury. He contested a clearance by Nashville goalie Elliot Panicco, and it appeared his foot was stepped on.

While Gomez writhed in pain on the sideline, Messi delivered the assist to Busquets. Gomez was stretchered off the field and replaced by Leo Afonso in the lineup.

Messi misses in 29’: Inter Miami 1, Nashville 1

Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez nearly had another highlight goal in this one.

Suárez skillfully headed a pass into the penalty area for Messi, whose left boot was blocked by Nashville goalie Elliot Panicco in the 29^th minute.

Tomás Avilés saves potential score: Inter Miami 1, Nashville 1

Inter Miami nearly surrendered another goal, but it was defender Tomás Avilés who hustled back to make a save near the open net to keep this score tied at 1.

Messi scores goal: Inter Miami 1, Nashville 1

Right place. Right time. And a 1-1 tie after 11 minutes.

Messi’s first shot toward the net was deflected, but Suárez tracked down the rebound and dropped a pass off to Messi for the score.

Here's Messi's highlight goal against Nashville to tie the match at 1:

Franco Negri own goal: Nashville 1, Inter Miami 0

Inter Miami's Franco Negri, who is starting in place of the injured Jordi Alba, found himself at the wrong end of a goal score.

Following a Nashville corner kick, Negri's own goal leads to an early 1-0 deficit for Inter Miami two minutes into the match.

How to watch Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC live stream? 

Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC will kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET and broadcast via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

• WATCH: Messi and Inter Miami host Nashville SC on Apple TV

• TICKETS: Experience Messi and Inter Miami in person at home against Nashville SC

• SHOP: Get the latest Messi and Inter Miami gear from the MLS Store

Here are the starting lineups for Inter Miami vs. Nashville

Inter Miami faces Nashville for fifth time

Inter Miami has two wins and two draws against Nashville in their previous four games: Inter Miami eliminated Nashville 5-3 on aggregate score in the Concacaf Champions Cup last month. But their first matchup in the Leagues Cup final was most memorable, as Messi led Inter Miami to its first championship in franchise history last summer.

“We know it’s an intense game always every time we play against them since we played them in the [Leagues Cup] final. Every time we play them it’s like oh my god, we’re playing them again. Even my mom asked ‘Oh my god, are guys you playing them again?‘“ Inter Miami’s David Ruiz said this week.

“It just feels like another final honestly. We know it’s going to be a very intense game no matter what. We’re just ready and looking forward to getting a win.”

How has Messi fared in his return from injury?

Messi has scored two goals in his last three games — with a goal against Colorado on April 6 and a goal against Sporting Kansas City last Saturday. Messi was sidelined from March 13 to April 6 due to the injury.

However, Messi was held scoreless but did have an assist when Inter Miami was eliminated by LIGA MX club Monterrey in the Champions Cup quarterfinal on April 10.

Inter Miami remains injured bunch in April

Jordi Alba will be considered game-to-game after he misses the next two games, Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said Friday. Alba is dealing with a right hamstring injury.

Inter Miami could also face Nashville without strikers Robert Taylor and Leo Campana, who have returned to practice but are recovering from hamstring injuries. Defender Sergey Krivtsov (hamstring) has yet to return to practice.

Inter Miami vs. Nashville timeline

∎Messi scored a goal and helped Inter Miami outlast Nashville 10-9 on penalty kicks to win the Leagues Cup final on Aug. 17, 2023 — seven games into his Inter Miami career.

∎Messi and Inter Miami played to a scoreless draw against Nashville on Aug. 30, 2023.

∎Messi scored in the 52nd minute and Luis Suárez scored in extra time to help Inter Miami escape with a 2-2 draw in the first leg of their Champions Cup round-of-16 matchup on March 7.

∎Suárez scored in the eighth minute, and Messi scored in the 23rd but left the game in the 50th minute due to a right hamstring injury in a 3-1 win for Inter Miami on March 13.

What is Inter Miami’s upcoming schedule?

Here are the next five Inter Miami matches after the Nashville game:

∎April 27: Inter Miami at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m. ET

∎May 4: Inter Miami vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m. ET

∎May 11: Inter Miami at CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m. ET

∎May 15: Inter Miami at Orlando City, 7:30 p.m. ET

∎May 18: Inter Miami vs. DC United, 7:30 p.m. ET

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC score, highlights: Messi brace, 3-1 win