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 equalize 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, according to ESPN Research. 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.
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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.
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That it was not Messi’s night was only confirmed in second-half stoppage time. First, he was denied by both posts in the same attack and then when he did get the ball in the goal it was ruled out for offside.
Miami, though, contributed to their own downfall on the match-clinching fourth goal. Miami goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo slipped and was left stranded well outside of his penalty area to let a long kick forward from his Nashville counterpart Schwake find the onrushing Mukhtar, who could almost walk the ball into the unguarded net.
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.
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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 of those defeats came without Messi or striker Luis Suárez in the starting lineup.
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. Suárez, meanwhile, was unavailable for the entire Leagues Cup as he served a suspension following an incident in last year’s final.
Miami will look get back to winning ways when visiting the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday.
