Lionel Messi continued his prolific scoring form against Nashville, netting his nineteenth goal of the season on Saturday as Inter Miami were held to a 2-2 draw by the league leaders in a fiercely contested Eastern Conference clash at Nu Stadium in Miami.

Nashville struck early, taking the lead just four minutes into the match when Sam Surridge finished off a pass from Andy Najar for his fourteenth goal of the campaign.

Miami hit back before the halftime whistle when Messi swung a corner into the box that struck the head of Nashville defender Reed Baker-Whiting and looped into the net, an own goal that levelled the score at one apiece.

The Argentine forward put Miami ahead midway through the second half. Found by Rodrigo De Paul just outside the penalty area in the sixty second minute, Messi curled a left footed effort into the bottom corner to make it 2 to 1 and hand the hosts a chance of their first win over Nashville all season.

That lead held until deep into stoppage time, when Surridge struck again to complete his brace and snatch a point for the visitors, ensuring Nashville remain unbeaten against Miami across four meetings this year.

The result kept Nashville nine points clear of second placed Miami in the Eastern Conference standings, and it also serves as revenge of sorts for the Herons, who lost 4 to 1 to the same opponents in their previous meeting last month and were also knocked out of the Concacaf Champions Cup by Nashville earlier this season.

Messi’s record against the club remains extraordinary all the same, with the eight time Ballon d’Or winner now having scored seventeen goals in fourteen appearances against Nashville in all competitions since arriving in Miami in 2023.

Both sides now turn to a busy week. Nashville will host Chicago Fire next Saturday, while Inter Miami face Liga MX champions Cruz Azul at home on Wednesday in the Campeones Cup.

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