Lionel Messi endured another frustrating night from the penalty spot as Inter Miami suffered a third consecutive defeat, falling 4-1 to first-place Nashville SC on Saturday.
Messi had a golden opportunity to bring Miami level in the 23rd minute after Andy Nájar had given Nashville an early lead. However, his penalty was saved low to the goalkeeper’s right by Nashville goalkeeper Brian Schwake. Sergio Reguilón followed up on the rebound and found the net, but the goal was ruled out for encroachment following a VAR review.
It was the first time since 2014 that Messi has failed to convert three consecutive penalties. The Argentine star also missed two penalties for his national team during this summer’s World Cup, against Austria in the group stage and Egypt in the round of 16.
The miss was Messi’s first failed penalty in MLS since September 13, 2025.
Despite the setback, Miami managed to equalize before halftime. Messi played a precise pass into the path of Telasco Segovia, who showed excellent footwork before finishing calmly in first-half stoppage time.
Nashville, however, took control immediately after the break. Former MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar scored twice, with striker Sam Surridge adding another goal with a clever back-heeled finish.
Messi became increasingly frustrated as the game slipped away from Miami. He strongly protested to the referee after claiming he had been fouled in the buildup to Surridge’s goal, which made it 3-1, and was subsequently booked.
The night only became more difficult for the 39-year-old. Messi hit both posts during the same second-half attack before finally putting the ball into the net later in stoppage time, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
Nashville’s fourth goal also highlighted Miami’s struggles. Miami goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo slipped while well outside his penalty area, allowing a long clearance from Schwake to reach Mukhtar. The Nashville forward was then left with an open net and an easy finish.
Inter Miami had entered the match unbeaten in six league games and knew a victory would have moved them above Nashville at the top of both the Eastern Conference and Supporters’ Shield standings. Instead, Nashville strengthened its position with a five-point advantage with 15 regular-season matches remaining.
The defeat came after Miami had already lost its previous two matches in the MLS vs. Liga MX Leagues Cup, results that eliminated the club before the knockout stage. Messi and Luis Suárez, however, did not start either of those games.
Messi returned to the starting lineup on Saturday for the first time since the death of his father, Jorge Messi, a week earlier. He missed the defeat to Monterrey before coming off the bench in Wednesday’s loss to León.
Suárez was unavailable throughout Miami’s Leagues Cup campaign while serving a suspension stemming from an incident during last year’s final.
Inter Miami will now look to end their losing streak when they travel to face the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday.
