Messi returns from injury, carries Inter Miami to 3-1 win over Galaxy

Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald on Aug 16, 2025

Published in Soccer

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Just when it seemed Inter Miami was going to be embarrassed for the second weekend in a row, Lionel Messi came off the bench and came to the rescue, scoring the go-ahead goal in the 84th minute and delivering a back-heel assist to Luis Suarez five minutes later to secure a 3-1 victory over the struggling Los Angeles Galaxy.

The Argentine captain struck the way he often does, weaving through tight spaces, getting around a defender and launching a left-footed blast from distance to the bottom left corner as Chase Stadium erupted and the opposing goalkeeper Novak Micovic stood helpless.

Messi and Rodrigo De Paul came off the bench to roars from the crowd at the start of the second half with Inter Miami holding a 1-0 lead over the last-place Galaxy.

Fifteen minutes later, the stadium went silent as Joseph Paintsil, the powerful Ghanian forward, maneuvered past Miami defenders Marcelo Weigandt and Gonzalo Lujan and beat goalkeeper Oscar Ustari for the equalizer.

This is not how anyone expected the game to play out. Miami’s roster is the most expensive and high-profile in the league, and though the team was coming off a humbling 4-1 loss to Orlando City, Miami was heavily favored against a Galaxy team that had won just three games all season and allowed 52 goals.

Not to worry. Messi stepped up big time.

When he and De Paul ran to the corner flag to warm up in the 40th minute with the game knotted at 0-0, the sea of pink went wild.

The volume got even louder two minutes later, when Jordi Alba, who normally plays on the left, streaked up the right and collected a brilliant through ball from Sergio Busquets and knocked it in to give Inter Miami a 1-0 lead.

A few minutes earlier, an apparent goal from Telasco Segovia off a slick back-heel pass from Suarez was ruled off side. Miami dominated the first half, outshooting the Galaxy 12-0, with three shots on goal.

Messi returned to action after missing two games with a hamstring injury and De Paul traveled out of the country early in the week to finalize his visa paperwork and rejoined the team for training on Friday.

Fafa Picault got the start on the left wing with Luis Suarez up top and Benja Cremaschi started in the midfield along with Tadeo Allende, Telasco Segovia, and Sergio Busquets. The rest of the starters were goalkeeper Oscar Ustari, right back Marcelo Weigandt, center backs Maxi Falcon and Gonzalo Lujan, and left back Jordi Alba.

Picault, a Haitian American who spent his teen years in Miami, and Cremaschi, a Key Biscayne native, are both fan favorites at Chase Stadium. Both had expressed a desire to get more playing time in recent weeks got their wish.

Inter Miami was motivated to win and climb in the league standings after slipping to sixth place in the East after a humbling 4-1 loss to Orlando City last weekend. Miami moved up to fourth place (45 points) with the win Saturday and sits six points behind leader Philadelphia with three games in hand.

They were favored at home against the defending MLS Cup champion Galaxy, which plummeted to last place this season with the league’s worst record (three wins, 15 losses and seven ties). Los Angeles has given up 52 goals, the worst defensive record in the league.

The Galaxy was winless in 15 road games and coming off a 4-1 loss to the Seattle Sounders. Galaxy star Riqui Puig has been out all season with a knee injury, but the roster includes high quality players such as Marco Reus, Edwin Cerrillo and Diego Fagundez.

Despite L.A.’s league record, Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said his team cannot afford to take the game lightly. The Galaxy managed to advance to the Leagues Cup quarterfinals by scoring 10 goals through its three group games, and coach Greg Vanney said that was proof that the team was finally re-finding its form.

The Galaxy starting lineup included: Micovic, right back Miki Yamane, center back Zanka, center back Edwin Cerrillo, left back John Nelson, left wing Diego Fagundez, right wing Gabriel Pec, midfielder Isaiah Parente, midfielder Marco Reus (captain), midfielder Elijah Wynder, and Paintsil.

Both teams advanced to the Leagues Cup quarterfinals and play on Wednesday, Inter Miami against Tigres and the Galaxy against Pachuca.