Lionel Messi vs New England Surprising Home Draw 25 04 2026

Lionel Messi performing. Luis Suarez contributing. Soccer, he's producing, Dunne, but he's also been so productive and durable. Lionel Messi, don't let the quiet demeanor fool you. He's clinical, he's a ruthless winner, and he's almost unstoppable yet again after back-to-back MLS MVP seasons. From the extraordinary close control on the dribble to being nearly impossible to dispossess at full speed, explosiveness, and a left foot that could cut a defender's heart out. Moments. Respond with the full three points. The question for me tonight, for Marco Mitrovic, how much is about them versus how much it is about us? What does New England do really well over the course of 90 minutes tonight? Different players providing moments. It's not just Lionel Messi's show. Defensive shape, and by the way, the temperature, it's getting close to May, which you'd think summertime. Very pleasant, with a nice cool breeze, and this stadium with that roof. Luna Solans or Guilavo Gui, how do they mimic it? And most importantly, how is the response from the New England Revolution? The one start was back March the 14th. Well, the big challenge for both Ethan Kohler and Fofana. Suarez there. Defenders collapse on him. Handful here in a substitution role. Really, the game changed when he came in against Salt Lake. Ready to go to Paul. Scored off a corner kick. It was a short ball, just like that one. It comes in for Messi. Now Lujan, and the intervention in time from Turciman. Corner kick. Yeah, great honesty from Turciman. Remember, there's so many new players. We think of Messi, and DePaul, and Suarez, but Mikael, and David Achala, and Dane Sinclair. He's not going to be on that final roster for Marisa Pochettino, but every performance matters if he's got hopes to be the number one again. Messi, Suarez. Matt Turner definitely, I wouldn't say on the plane. He's on the bus with the U.S. Suarez, he is so strong. In for DePaul. And Bertaname, Rodrigo DePaul. Messi, DePaul. And while that pass didn't find him, the weight of the ball and the vision right there from Rodrigo DePaul. Messi! Turner. This exclusive NetCam replay is brought to you by AT&T. And it might have taken a deflection on the way in, but Messi's sitting in those pockets. The turn, the pivot, and how quickly he reacts. Great stuff from Matt Turner, down to his left-hand side. Full extension, good push, clears the lines, and averts the pressure for New England defensively. It's a huge breakthrough for this team. They know they have the other end. You can see the initiation of the sapres defensively and where their line of confrontation looks. Beautiful. Messi. Suarez, one touch. At the end of last season. And functionally, you have to make adjustments. This is astronomical when it comes to the moment that you just feast your eyes on everything that's happening. And that's even before we get to the players on the field. And we had very high expectations, and they met and exceeded them. The face behind you is always going to be executed on by Inter Miami. You know, Messi, yet to have an assist this season. He almost had one there. I kind of plugged that line in there with the expectation that at some point he's going to hit a set piece of that nature. Marking them 1v1 responsibility right now for the New England revolution. Always the potential to get caught flat-footed. Messi, limpico almost, but Matt Turner. Rodrigo de Paul, or as our colleague Sammy Sadovnik calls him, RDP, which just rolls off the tongue. RDP. He's out of corner. MLS greener goals, week of service is highlighting how close. When they turn the ball over, so many numbers are committed forward. That's when they become their most vulnerable in defensive transition. Messi, nice block there. Criminal. And the folks at MLS 360 will give you the details after Inter Miami, but Noah Allen leads the way, the Broward kid. De Paul, Messi. Looking to be in an onside position. The player comparison is presented by Celsius Pure Passion and Maximum Energy with Zero Sugar. New England, as we pointed out, four straight wins. They're also through to the round of 16 of the U.S. Open Cup. Honky Cap Champions Cup. Ruiz again. Klee looks right at Rubio Vasquez. Messi picks his head up, faces goal. Nobody marks him. He fills the space. Alludes Yusuf. Yusuf able to slow him down. Messi's looking for his spot. I'm talking just outside of Providence, and that's the key for New England is to cast a wide net into Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire. Intelligent stuff right there from Rodrigo De Paul. And Lionel Messi is asking Rubio Vasquez, our referee, why a yellow card wasn't shown to Brooklyn Reigns. Inter Miami will be here. For reference, Chelo Wygant, Tomas Aviles, who's now up in Montreal. There's been an evolution across this back line of who's good enough to play on this team consistently. Screaming for that to be the first game here, but I think he's opening against a nondescript opponent, which I guess off the short bench. Saw some of the players there. He's getting instructions, so this could be a quick pivot. All the way through. Messi. Oh, off the toes. It looked like it was one of the defenders. No. Goal kick. Well, these are the half chances, and even Will Sands has to worry about a late run. Dynamic pushing through Lionel Messi. We've seen it time and time again. Quick little combos, quick little flicks. He's rewarded the run, takes it down with his right foot. And even with that, at least two players in the vicinity of this man, Lionel Messi. Daniel Sumala gets his second. Both local kids. Messi gets it back after it goes off of Reigns. Reigns all over Messi. That's his job tonight. They got the clean sheet there. 45-minute scoreless here. Progress on the defensive end. Now this guy looking to pick things up at the other side. Heel. The reality, Max, is that incredible difference-makers on the field. The court comes late. Bertarame. Bertarame pokes it away. Now Messi. It's stoppage time. Sideline. And that turn is going to be tough to beat. And that is now etched in the head of Lionel Messi. A little bit of a swing of a heel right there from Brooklyn Reigns as Bertarame picks his pocket. Lionel Messi in a split second will just cut the heart out of any defensive unit in front of him. No score, but maybe some table-sitting perhaps, too. Yeah, the eyeball test really certainly goes into the favor of Inter-Miami in that first half, but a lot of good half opportunities for the New England Revolution. How do they take better... A slow burn coming back out from the locker room. Marquee victory and get their first five-game winning streak since 2021 when they won the Supporters' Shield. Up to Deo Allende. It looks like Moura has gone over to that left-hand side, vacated by Noah Allen. Inter-Miami's best chances happened early in the first half. They won a big number for Inter-Miami pregame. It's still big. It's come down a little bit, but not a lot. A lot of space doesn't need a ton of chances. He is so efficient and deadly. Breaking forward. Being recognized by other coaches, other managers, other sporting directors as guys that can be vital pieces for the way that they play. Put some reins. Mishit. Berterame. Now you have Messi with space. Turns it up. Reins shadows him. The ball for Suarez. Feingold. Perfect example of that. Reins really good with the U.S. under-20s. He's got a real bright future. Messi gets it back to his left peg. Blocked by Reins. Heel looks to counter. Physical in his battle with Dorit Turciman. And as that ball sneaks. See if they can get one back and then work on getting the winner later. One step at a time. Messi. Back door. Allende. Suarez. Lujan. Better here. Allende. Quick ball. Over the head of Berterame. Managing this 1-0 lead on the road. Messi. Suarez. Into place. And here we stand. Four straight wins. Looking for their fifth straight for the first time in five seasons. Messi getting deeper. He has been a marathon man. Denver and then the Salt Lake City respectively. The short turnaround time. Three games in seven days. What are the legs? Wondering if they had the right roster build. Marko Mitrovic hit the right buttons. Messi. Peyton Miller. Seats and suites. Elevated food and beverages. Exclusive entertainment and much more. Booked today at FIFA World. Opened up the score line officially. He and Fofano with Ceballos not available. They've been solid once again. Mishit there. They've brought Messi to Rock Stadium up the road. This is a sport. Preston Planbeck has had a nose for goal with Inter-Miami 2. He has earned this opportunity. Played in front. Nice comb over there from Fofano. Corner kick. The big 2010 World Cup. And they made the quarterfinals. Here's Frey. 14-18-22. He was there. Give you a chance. And it almost paid off. We saw it with Rodrigo DePaul. That first goal in the 82nd minute at Real Salt Lake. DePaul. Redirect Allende. Second best. Messi. DePaul. Brooklyn Reigns. More involvement for Messi. Surrounded. Plays it back for Frey. That service from Rodrigo DePaul. Messi. Again, the defensive effort from Youssef and Reigns. That's exceptional. Back in front. All the way for it. We knew that was going to be the challenge with the injuries and the suspension. Silvetti. Segovia. Bright. Ajala. Reguilon. Crowd's feeling it. Messi. End-to-end. It's turned into a track meet. Still with wind in his sails, the cross. Peyton Miller. Suarez wants it. He's the decoy. Messi from distance. Shakes you. DePaul. Messi blocked by Reigns again. Really settled into this match and making his MLS debut. He looks like he should be part of it. Messi. Right peg. Yeah, you can see he can feel it. They're on the right track. They're in search of this game winner. Less preferred right foot doesn't mean the quality's not there. Keeps his head down. Strikes through the ball. Just up and over that crossbar. Trying to pick out that upper left-hand corner of Matt Turner's goal. A god here and everywhere. His Achilles calf. You can see him trying to work it out. This is his third appearance this season for Miami. Chance brewing. Messi. Allende. Well played by Peyton Miller. Like they were meant to be out there. Messi right now. He's chirping at Rubio Vasquez. He's been in his ear for the last four or five minutes. I think for a second, Inter-Miami's going to get that ball and turn it over and try to expose your vacated center-back presence. Go, go, go for Messi in Miami. DePaul. You may have to go to the kids. You have Eric Kluck. Focus has to be there. Maybe you don't get a win, but you got to get something. Can't leave here empty-handed. Marco Vitrovic just looking to close up shot. Tanner Beeson's going to be the next change for the revolution. Messi. Now Frey. I played alongside Rodrigo DePaul right behind Lionel Messi. Messi. All the way through. Look at that right peg. Second time we've seen it just lofted in the air. Turner gets under between those two clubs. Certainly the Bruce Arena effect you would imagine. Messi. Nicely done by Reigns. Messi, who has a goal via header this season, using all parts of his body. Yule. Frey. Miller, who touched it last. You, like many other clubs, are going to see a lot of home games early on because the Gillette Stadium will be a World Cup venue, and they have to start preparing it. Good read from Tanner Beeson. Messi. Mikael. Flambeck. He's in, as you said, in the first half. Yeah. It'd be crazy not to have a guy like that, certainly in an emergency role. Messi drives Turner solid. Now he's piling up the save numbers, as he did against Atlanta. Tripped a mile high, tripped Salt Lake City, and then tonight. One more moment for Messi. He plays Allende. Messi keeps running. Messi. Here's Falcone. Matt Turner. He is completely and utterly locked in. Yeah. Really good read right there from Ethan Coler. To the ground. Allende. Messi. They're trying to set him up. New England knows where he is, but it just takes a moment. In it comes. Allende. Matt. 50 seconds. Back and forth. Messi on the money. Allende. Both teams leave a little unfulfilled.