Messi Dazzles in Clutch Victory as Inter Miami Crushes LA Galaxy to Cement MVP Legacy
Inter Miami CF relied on their Barcelona legends trio to secure a 3–1 victory over defending MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy on Saturday evening, with Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba and Luis Suárez spearheading the effort.
Messi made his comeback from injury after sitting out the team's previous two fixtures, including last week's regular-season 4–1 defeat to Orlando City SC, and contributed a goal and assist after coming on as a second-half substitute.
While his impact drove Miami to victory, they also received notable contributions from Alba, Suárez and Busquets, establishing momentum for their Leagues Cup quarterfinal matchup against Liga MX's Tigres UANL on Wednesday.
The victory propels Miami into the Eastern Conference's top four with 45 points from 24 matches, while the Galaxy reinforced their position at the Western Conference bottom, managing only 16 points across 26 games.
Here are Sports Illustrated's key observations from the Herons' 3–1 triumph over the Galaxy.
Messi's Spectacular Return
Lionel Messi may not have been the early-season favorite for the MLS MVP Award, but he has emerged as the clear frontrunner after dominating the Golden Boot standings in his injury comeback against the Galaxy.
While many players require adjustment time after a two-week absence, Messi maximized his 45-minute appearance after halftime entry, netting the decisive goal with an elegant long-range left-footed strike and providing Suárez with a clever backheel pass for an assist.
Beyond his two goal involvements, the 38-year-old generated five scoring opportunities, attempted five shots, and registered 26 touches, all ranking among the match's highest despite his limited playing time.
With 10 matches left in the campaign, Messi now tops the Golden Boot leaderboard with 19 goals and 11 assists, having appeared in only 19 games compared to other top-five contenders who have played at least 21.
While Miami's lackluster first-half performance without Messi may raise concerns, his presence makes him the league's most impactful player, consistently demonstrating his value whenever he takes the field.
Suarez Rediscovers His Scoring Form
Luis Suárez has presented a puzzle in 2025, battling to find consistent scoring form or match his 20-goal output from the 2024 MLS regular season. Nevertheless, his recent performances indicate progress in this area.
His late goal against the Galaxy elevated him to six regular-season strikes in 2025 and 10 goals across 36 appearances in all competitions, following recent scores against Pumas in Leagues Cup action and Palmeiras at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Though not matching his career-long scoring rate, he's finding the net sufficiently to warrant his starting role while adapting his tactical approach to become more of a creative hub—accumulating 15 assists across all competitions.
Saturday also featured a radiant smile from the striker, displaying clever touches and more expressive play—a stark contrast to the frustration he's frequently exhibited this season, whether directed at teammates or his aging physique.
For Miami to sustain a deep MLS Cup Playoff campaign or continue challenging for Eastern Conference supremacy, they'll need Suárez to maintain his recent momentum, though the Uruguayan has proven his value even during goal droughts.
Ustari's Continued Struggles
Inter Miami experienced significant goalkeeping developments this week, transferring original roster member Drake Callender to Charlotte FC, thereby placing complete trust in Oscar Ustari's abilities between the posts.
This gamble hasn't yielded results yet, and Saturday provided additional cause for worry. Despite recording two saves in the victory, it marked the second consecutive match where Ustari failed to handle a relatively routine near-post save, allowing Joseph Paintsil to score in puzzling circumstances.
Paintsil's acute-angle shot followed Martín Ojeda's similarly angled goal for Orlando City SC in their victory over the Herons last weekend, further highlighting Ustari's positioning issues, despite ranking among the league's premier pure shot-stoppers.
Nevertheless, he remains Miami's goalkeeper of choice, a decision head coach Javier Mascherano must support, considering backup options Rocco Rios Novo and William Yarbrough would represent substantial downgrades in crucial moments.
With Leagues Cup quarterfinals approaching, Miami will receive a proper evaluation of Ustari's ability to perform under knockout pressure against teams of comparable quality, unlike his successful showing at the FIFA Club World Cup.