Messi Misses 3rd Straight Penalty As Nashville Beat His Club Miami 4-1
Lionel Messi missed his third penalty in a row as Inter Miami suffered a third consecutive loss in a 4-1 rout at first-place Nashville SC on Saturday.
Messi had a chance to equalise at 1-1 for Miami in the 23rd minute but saw his effort from the spot saved by Nashville goalkeeper Brian Schwake low to his right side. Sergio Reguilón put in the rebound but it was disallowed for encroachment after a video review.
It is the first time since 2014 that Messi has failed to find the net on three straight penalty kicks.
He missed both his attempts for Argentina during this summer’s World Cup, against Austria in the group stage and in the round of 16 against Egypt.
It was Messi’s first penalty miss in MLS since Sept. 13, 2025.
Miami did get back level after Andy Nájar’s 17th-minute opener at Geodis Park when Messi picked out a pass to Telasco Segovia, who displayed some clever footwork before finding the net in first-half stoppage time.
But Nashville ran riot early in the second half. Former MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar scored twice, either side of a clever back-heeled finish from striker Sam Surridge.
Messi cut an increasingly frustrated figure and appealed strongly to the referee that he had been fouled in the buildup to Surridge’s goal to make it 3-1, earning himself a yellow card.
After six games without a loss in the league, last season’s MLS Cup winner went into the game knowing a win would see it climb above Nashville to the top of the Eastern Conference and Supporters’ Shield standings. Instead, Nashville now has a five-point edge with 15 games of the regular season remaining.
Miami had lost its last two matches in the MLS versus Liga MX Leagues Cup to exit the competition before the knockout phase. But both those defeats came without Messi or striker Luis Suárez in the starting lineup.
Inter Miami manager Guillermo Hoyos spoke after the game and insisted the team will continue to look for improvements.
“A defeat like this won’t stop us; we keep growing. We’ll rest today and start working toward our goals again tomorrow. You don’t lose your objectives just because of one defeat; quite the opposite, we are going to aim higher, keep growing, and continue the development of the squad.
“I am grateful for everything the players did. People might point out the 4-1 loss, but the team endured a huge emotional toll; you have to be out there on the pitch to understand it. So, beyond the unfavorable result, there were very valuable things on display, and that is what really matters to me.”
Messi was back in the XI on Saturday for the first time since the death of his father, Jorge, a week ago.
After missing the loss to Monterrey, the 39-year-old came off the bench in Wednesday’s defeat to León.
