MLS: Lionel Messi misses penalty again as Nashville thrash Inter Miami ۴-۱

Messi’s record from the penalty spot is poor by his sky-high standards, including missing twice during the ۲۰۲۶ World Cup.

Forward Lionel Messi missed yet another penalty and was booked as Inter Miami suffered a ۴-۱ defeat at Nashville in a top-of-the-table Major League Soccer clash on Saturday.

England’s Sam Surridge and Germany’s Hany Mukhtar scored second-half goals for the hosts, Nashville, in a showdown between the MLS overall leaders.

Argentina and Miami captain Messi was denied from the penalty spot in the first half and was issued a yellow card in the ۵۹th minute but also assisted Miami’s lone goal, scored by Telasco Segovia.

Messi, the ۲۰۲۲ World Cup winner, struck both posts in second-half stoppage time.

Nashville lead MLS with ۴۳ points and a record of ۱۳-۲ with four drawn, while Inter Miami are second on ۳۸ points.

Nashville had already knocked Miami out of this year’s CONCACAF Champions Cup in the round of ۱۶.

Defending MLS champions Miami, who had been a league-best ۸-۱-۱ on the road, saw a seven-match undefeated MLS run snapped as Nashville remained unbeaten at home in the MLS campaign.

Honduran defender Andy Najar scored with a header in the ۱۷th minute to give Nashville a ۱-۰ lead.

Miami had a chance to equalise with a Messi penalty kick in the ۲۳rd minute, but Nashville goalkeeper Brian Schwake saved his weak effort.

Messi’s recent record from the penalty spot is poor by his sky-high standards, including missing twice at the FIFA World Cup ۲۰۲۶.

The visitors netted the equaliser three minutes into first-half stoppage time when Venezuelan Segovia blasted in a right-footed shot off an assist by Messi.

Mukhtar, the ۲۰۲۲ MLS Most Valuable Player, put Nashville back in front in the ۴۹th minute.

Surridge gave Nashville a ۳-۱ lead, and Mukhtar added his second in the ۶۳rd for extra insurance as the hosts pulled away.