Messi, Dos Santos Spark Come-From-Behind Victory For Inter Miami

Inter Miami rallies to beat New York City FC 3-2 in MLS action

Mar. 23, 2026 at 1:50am

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Lionel Messi scored the equalizer off a free kick in the second half and then helped set up Micael dos Santos' winning goal as Inter Miami came from behind to beat New York City FC 3-2 at Yankee Stadium. The victory moved Inter Miami into a second-place tie in the Eastern Conference.

Why it matters

Messi's heroics in leading Inter Miami's comeback win over one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference showcases his continued dominance in MLS and the team's ability to rally from behind. The result also has significant implications for the Eastern Conference standings.

The details

Gonzalo Luján gave Inter Miami an early 1-0 lead, but NYCFC responded with goals from Nicolás Fernández and Agustín Ojeda to take a 2-1 advantage. Messi's free kick in the 61st minute tied the game, and his corner kick in the 74th minute set up Micael dos Santos' game-winning header for Inter Miami.

  • Luján scored in the 4th minute to give Inter Miami an early lead.
  • Fernández equalized for NYCFC in the 17th minute.
  • Ojeda put NYCFC ahead 2-1 in the 59th minute.
  • Messi scored the equalizer in the 61st minute.
  • Micael dos Santos scored the winning goal in the 74th minute.

The players

Lionel Messi

Superstar forward for Inter Miami who scored the equalizing goal and assisted on the winning goal.

Gonzalo Luján

21-year-old defender who scored the opening goal for Inter Miami.

Nicolás Fernández

NYCFC forward who scored the equalizing goal in the 17th minute.

Agustín Ojeda

NYCFC midfielder who scored the go-ahead goal in the 59th minute.

Micael dos Santos

Inter Miami midfielder who scored the winning goal in the 74th minute.

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What’s next

Inter Miami will host Austin FC on April 4, while NYCFC will host St. Louis City on the same date.

The takeaway

Despite falling behind early, Inter Miami demonstrated its resilience and Messi's ability to lead a comeback, underscoring the team's status as a top contender in the Eastern Conference.