Nashville SC beats Inter Miami 4-1 as Messi misses penalty

On Saturday, Lionel Messi missed a penalty and was booked as Inter Miami fell 4‑1 to Nashville SC in a top‑table MLS clash at Nissan Stadium. The match, played on a humid Sunday night, saw Nashville extend its lead at the summit of the league while Inter Miami’s unbeaten run ended.

Nashville now sits on 43 points with a 13‑2‑4 record, topping the table by a single point over Inter Miami’s 38. The win keeps the Sounders’ home unbeaten streak intact and further solidifies their position as the league’s best performers on the road, having gone 8‑1‑1 in away matches. Miami had already been knocked out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup by Nashville in the round of 16, making this defeat a double blow for the club.

Andy Najar opened the scoring with a header in the 17th minute. Messi’s penalty in the 23rd minute was saved by goalkeeper Brian Schwake. Three minutes into first‑half stoppage time, Telasco Segovia netted a right‑footed shot assisted by Messi to give Miami a 1‑0 lead. Hany Mukhtar restored Nashville’s advantage in the 49th minute, followed by Sam Surridge’s goal in the 58th. Mukhtar added a second in the 63rd to make it 4‑1.

The result widens the gap between the top two clubs and keeps Nashville in the title race while ending Inter Miami’s seven‑match undefeated streak. It also adds to Messi’s poor penalty record, which has seen him miss twice at the 2026 World Cup. Nashville’s victory gives the club a psychological edge heading into the final stretch of the season, while Inter Miami will need to regroup quickly to secure a playoff spot.