Overview
- Inter Miami beat FC Cincinnati 5-3 at TQL Stadium, with Lionel Messi scoring twice and supplying an assist in a wild, back-and-forth match.
- Hours after the final whistle, MLS’s Statistics Tribunal reclassified Messi’s apparent third goal as an own goal by goalkeeper Roman Celentano, so no hat-trick was recorded.
- The disputed play saw a Mateo Silvetti pass lead to Messi’s shot off the post before the ball bounced off Celentano and crossed the line, which fits the rule that awards an own goal when the initial shot was not heading in by itself.
- With the correction, Messi has 11 league goals this season and roughly 909 career goals reported by outlets, and Inter Miami sits second in the East two points behind Nashville with one more game played.
- MLS also said Matchday 13 was the highest-scoring round in league history, underscoring a surge in goals across the league beyond this single game.