Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi reacts during the first half of an MLS soccer match against the Philadelphia Union, Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Chester, Pa.. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi (10) dribbles as Philadelphia Union’s Indiana Vassilev, center right, pursues during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Chester, Pa.. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi, second from right, reacts after his shot was stpped by Philadelphia Union’s Andrew Rick, right, during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Chester, Pa.. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Inter Miami’s Oscar Ustari reacts after giving up a second goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match against the Philadelphia Union, Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Chester, Pa.. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Philadelphia Union’s Kai Wagner, left, leaps to head the ball over Inter Miami’s Ian Fray, right, during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Chester, Pa.. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Philadelphia Union’s Quinn Sullivan (33) reacts after his goal against Inter Miami during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Chester, Pa.. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Messi’s late free kick goal sparks Inter Miami to rally for a 3-3 tie against Union
CHESTER, Pa. (AP) 鈥 Lionel Messi got a rise out of the crowd when he scored on a free kick late in the second half to pull Inter Miami within one and Telasco Segovia tied the game in the final minutes, helping Inter Miami rally from a two-goal deficit to tie the Philadelphia Union 3-3 on Saturday night.
Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi reacts during the first half of an MLS soccer match against the Philadelphia Union, Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Chester, Pa.. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
CHESTER, Pa. (AP) 鈥 Lionel Messi got a rise out of the crowd when he scored on a free kick late in the second half to pull Inter Miami within one and Telasco Segovia tied the game in the final minutes, helping Inter Miami rally from a two-goal deficit to tie the Philadelphia Union 3-3 on Saturday night.
Messi, the eight-time Ballon d鈥橭r winner and 2022 World Cup champion, scored a crucial goal in his first game since during a rare television interview to stick together after a .
They stuck together down the stretch to stun the Union.
Messi finally solved 19-year-old Union goalie Andrew Rick late in front of a packed house that came to watch one of 鈥 and also to root on a Union team that came minutes away from its 11th win of the season.
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Quinn Sullivan scored the first goal and Tai Baribo added two more for the Union. Tadeo Allende scored in the second half to make it 2-1 Inter Miami.
Messi buried a free kick late in the game that made it 3-2 and seemed like it could spark Inter Miami out of its funk. Segovia took care of the rest.
Messi brought out his share of fans in his second career MLS visit to Subaru Park, though the was tamped down to Messi Mildness this time. The pregame scene outside the stadium saw fans in every beer, hot dog, bathroom line, in Messi jerseys and T-shirts, ready to root on the World Cup champion from Argentina.
Unlike his first visit, when tickets soared past $1,000 on the secondary market and season-ticket holders gleefully sold their tickets to make money, good seats Saturday were still available on the secondary market for less than $100 a pop moments before kickoff.
Messi missed the trip to Chester last season because of international games with Argentina at Copa America.
Messi, who turns 38 in June, received a mix of cheers and boos in his return when he was introduced, yet the result was the same.
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Messi鈥檚 team set an MLS record for best regular-season mark a year ago, going 22-4-8 鈥 finishing with the most points and top winning percentage in league history. The four regular-season losses tied a league mark for the fewest in a season.
But this season looks nothing like last season.
鈥淲e鈥檙e coming off a period of bad results,鈥 Messi told Apple TV. 鈥淏ut we have to keep working and think about what鈥檚 next. With three or four games left in May, we (have to) finish the best possible way to be able to face the Club World Cup.鈥
That tournament starts June 14. It鈥檚 the next big event on Inter Miami鈥檚 calendar 鈥 and some games will be played down the road at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Super Bowl champion Eagles.
Eagles star 鈥 who became the first player in Super Bowl history to intercept a pass or score a touchdown on his birthday 鈥 struck the ceremonial pregame drum to get the festivities started.
Sullivan and Baribo took it from there, each scoring first-half goals against Miami鈥檚 Oscar Ustari to keep the good times rolling for the hottest team in MLS.
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