Messi Super Hat-Trick 💥 Inter Miami vs Los Angeles 5-3 - All Goals & Highlights - 2026

He was the referee for the Eastern Conference Final last year, which many thought would feature these two clubs. It included neither. Jeffrey Greeson, Kevin Locker, his assistants. And standing by in North Texas, Edvin Juricic is the man in charge of VAR. John Krill is his assistant this evening. Jordy Alva, not part of the festivities tonight. He's a spectator. His status for the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, remains to be seen. He is out tonight, as is Gonzalo Lujan. Key players on the Miami back line, who walked off with injury. And the match played here on Wednesday. As we get a look at Lionel Messi, next goal for him will be his 30th in the regular season. It would establish a new club record for Inter-Miami. We'll see if that comes tonight. Columbus is an MLS original. Miami, a relative newbie. But there's a history between these sides that's been brewing. Inter-Miami clinched the supporters' shield last season, October 2nd, in Columbus. A 3-2 victory in which Messi scored. In terms of the ball for Suric. You like that from Frey, right? And over to Totman. I love it. Thought he had shown it out. Yeah, the flag does go up. We don't have to wait for that one. The ball, that is. Suarez, edge of the penalty area. Good challenge. McNaughton hasn't shied away. Ends up settling for a touch. Well, that one. Mokhtar, he tries to square it. And it's somehow dropped out. Suric. Suric was expecting this pass. The way that he approaches it to take the strike on. It looks like he thinks Hany Mokhtar is going to take this on his own. But this is just good movement off the ball from Hany Mokhtar. Nice for that cross. Mokhtar making a really good run. Goes across, goes down. Good run central here. Three around, and the ball's going to escape. Big save from Panico. Super one-handed shot. Messi rebounds it. It's been all Nashville so far. And the first break. And the first moment of weakness for Nashville at the back. Gary Smith warned us at midweek. Lionel Messi can change the game in a blink of an eye. Things aren't going well for them. Enter Miami, their first spell of this game. But all it takes is one moment of magic. I love the creativity. I love the movement off the ball. But the confidence that Messi has when he's in one-on-one situations. But just watch how he stays alive at the top of your screen. The ball finds its way back to him by fortune. But the combination play between himself and Suarez is what creates this play. Ultimately, Suarez plays a role in getting the ball back to Messi to tap it home and bring his side back level 1-1 here in this match. The press. There is space. The space here. Negri trying to play that ball in. His feet, and the ball's made across. Suarez! Off the line. Panico saved by McNaughton. But that's all about the goalkeeper's mistake. Yeah, and Panico better go and think aggressively. Lucas McNaughton. Again, trying to create something from a set-piece situation. Calendar just passed. I'm ahead of you. Schaffelberg. Another right footed cross in. All the way through. And Avales just couldn't get that touch. The short corner routine almost paying dividends there for Inter Miami. To it plays Surich. Couldn't find McNaughton. Lovett's with that delivery! And they have now! Super delivery from Lovett, and it's redirected home. Talk about a perfect start for Gary Schmitzman. They lead early on here at Chase Stadium. We talk about Miami are going to give you chances. This time it comes off of a set-piece. You just mentioned that Nashville had not scored a set-piece so far this season. But somehow, someway, they make the most of a corner kick opportunity. It looks like it's going to actually be an own goal. Good ball whipped into the box. In swinging bar. But you see off of Negri. Just gets cut reacting late. Maybe sees it late. Just pokes his body in the wrong direction. And just like that. Ball in behind here for Messi again. Good challenge coming across from Lovett. Had to time that well. Little ball for Schaffelberg. Schaffelberg trying to cross. Battle in midfield. Norton steps in with the challenge. And the break from Gomez is stopped by Schaffelberg. Cool delivery towards that far post. Open header. Panico with a big save. Gomez pulls it back. Still not fully cleared. And he gets the cross in. Over the head of Callender. Weigand. And Schmitzman. Norton heads it back. Messi on his left foot. What a volley. Panico with a good save. That's all about the power of Suarez to open things up for Messi in behind. This is incredible strength, composure, and then intelligence from Suarez. We talk so much about the relationship that Busquets and Messi have. Suarez and Messi, it's almost telepathic. Delivered in. Good header by McNorton. Yearwood launching it. Nothing to beat. Messi with the steal. Messi parried away. That's a piece of it. But no. It's a 2-0 game. Messi to double the lead. And now on its own ground. Well, what a start from Inter Miami. You just look. When this pass comes back to Hagen, all of a sudden he's under a bit of pressure. Kramaski does really well. He makes him go onto his left foot. He's not able to get the distance on it. And the one person you do not want the ball to fall to is Messi. Because he just looks, takes one touch, and says, thank you very much. Hagen is off his line. He doesn't cover himself in glory once again. But you just see the clearance here. It's great play from Kramaski. And then just a lob from Messi. From a Columbus team that started really well. They find themselves 2-0 down. After a really good run forward from Negri. He's got two runners inside the area. And that one blocked. And it'll be an Inter Miami corner. Davis. Davis pulls it back. And that one's clear to the penalty area. Back in. And that one's off the underside of the woodwork. And away. And Callender somehow keeps it out. Centimeters away from a second goal for Nashville. Gomez is trying to get that cross. Beyond the defender. He's inside the penalty area. The challenge. Won't be worried about that one. Panico is beaten at the near post. And just the slightest of touches takes it home. Phil NC punished. Well, it's your number six. Your defensive midfielder, Sergio Busquets, getting his first goal of the season. But this is just about, if you give a team a gift, like Inter Miami, they will absolutely punish you. Elliot Panico gifting the opportunity that led to this corner kick. But look at the delivery from Lionel Messi. Just a really well-driven ball to the near post. Over the head of the first defender, which is so key. And then it's Busquets with the darting run to the near post. Just gets a glancing header. And that's enough to beat. At the edge of the box. Foot. Inter Miami delivered in. And cleared well. Mokhtar has it back. From Suarez. Messi. My gap was looking for a good play. Mokhtar. Delivered in. Little flick header. Messi. Edge of the box. On his right foot. Almost off the post. A slice of luck for Nashville. Nonchalant finish from Messi. He thought it was in. And Nashville survived for now. Moments. Really positive from Nashville here early on. Back stays down for Messi. Lionel Messi is in. Oh my. For a second straight week. And it's a 3-0 game. It's been a week-long masterclass from the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner. Mid-first half. The lead has grown to three. It's once again. Just setting the traps. Continuously. You see the high line. And you can see it's actually Farsi. The right wing back that's playing Messi on. He's not in line with the rest of the back five. And it's a simple finish for Messi once again. And it's been a quite sensational first half from Inter Miami. As for Columbus. It's been the complete opposite. What a ball from Busquets. But it's two weeks. Schaffelberg. Goes out wide. Tries to go for goal. Over. Cross. Towards the far post. Comfortably defended. Against Wigan. Again. Wigan. Wins it. And there's Ryde. Trying to get the cross in. And that was missed by two defenders. And Alfonso. Willis with the save. And he had to get that touch. Kressel was just over his shoulder. Schaffelberg. Little chip towards that far post. Good read. Suarez. Chip towards the far post. And that will. On his left foot. Towards Suric. And it's going to create overloads with Will. From Jack Mayer. Really good defending. Schaffelberg loses out on that one. On the turn. Mokhtar goes for goal. Comfortable save. Content, right? The others don't. Excuse me. Nashville have shown that they can get in behind that back line. Has it. And he goes down. Still going. And just enough of a touch. That was well defended. Lovitz. Was the man at the back. Dropped off long enough. And just went messy. Went to make his turn. But did you see. And this is a challenge. I'm not sure how much contact there's actually on that challenge box. Bauer was challenging for it. With the header. Yearwood's in there as well. Good play from the substitute. Pulls it back. And Nunga. He just. Can't play Suric. Describing a vast situation. Calendar. Does with that pass. He makes the mind up of David Ruiz. Puts it on his left foot. Telling him this is a first time pass. Still has it. Plays the ball out wide. Chance to cross. Kramas. Schaffelberg. Gressel having to come across. Schaffelberg goes. Another. Up and under. Calendar comes out. That was going to Nunga. With the pressure. Right. Rides one challenge. And then. Messi. Suarez. Apologizes. To Messi. As he was coming back from an offside. Negri. Ronaldo. Great ball to Suarez. To step up. And take the initiative in these kind of matches. Good turn. Gonna finish. Messi. Strong challenge. One man wall. Hanni Mukhtar. Chipped in. Over the head of Suric. Plop. Nunga on the ground. Looking for an acrobatic way. Hanni Mukhtar. He goes down. Far post whipped in. Good defensive header. With the cross. And will that one stay in? Schaffelberg. Love it. Not a very good decision. Suarez. And really quick. Messi holding on to it. Alphonso making the run. Alphonso opening up on his right. Mukhtar trying to get his cross in. Again the goalkeeper. Freire. Suric. Just about keeps it in play. But it's comfortable. Leal. Running into goal involvements. In five of his first six games. But with the cross. Suric. Made contact. But not good. Just have next man up. No. Nashville can't afford that. He saved the two. Lionel Messi. And then the tenacity. The aggressiveness that they played with. Didn't give Miami. Delivered in. And that one cleared. Mukhtar. Gonna go for goal. Negri. To get himself more involved in the game. And. It's just the running off the ball. That leads to this chance. At least there's opportunity that eventually. Willis to try and keep his team. In the game. He does it. Messi. The first half they had the initiative. Got their. Conceded. Here they have the large spell of possession. And yet it's entered Miami with the most pivotal moments. And decisive.