Messi Cannot Stop Miami Defeat at Red Bulls
- Suggested slug: messi-inter-miami-lose-red-bulls-2-0
- Category: Sports
- Focus keyphrase: Messi Inter Miami Red Bulls defeat
- SEO title: Messi Cannot Stop Miami Defeat at Red Bulls
- Meta description: Lionel Messi came off the bench but could not save Inter Miami from a 2-0 MLS defeat at New York Red Bulls, ending his 13-game goal contribution run.
- Tags: Lionel Messi, Inter Miami, New York Red Bulls, MLS, Casemiro, Emil Forsberg, Princess of Asturias Award, Cade Cowell
- Original element: explainer context: why Messi started on the bench after his Oviedo trip for the Princess of Asturias Award, and what the defeat means for Miami’s run and his scoring streak
- Date: Saturday, 24 October 2026 (match played Saturday; reported 25 October 2026)
Lionel Messi came off the bench in the second half but could not prevent Inter Miami’s three-match winning run from ending with a 2-0 defeat against New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer at Sports Illustrated Stadium on Saturday.
Messi started among the substitutes after travelling to Oviedo, Spain, on Thursday to receive the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports on Friday.
A bench role agreed in advance
Miami coach Cristian Gonzalez said the decision had been agreed upon to manage the Argentine’s workload.
“This was something that had already been agreed upon,” Gonzalez told reporters. “Obviously, he’s been through quite a journey, time zone changes, temperature shifts, and a whole host of other factors.”
“We were fully aware of all of this, and we reached an agreement that this was the best approach to ensure he didn’t suffer any issues, specifically to avoid any injuries considering we have another match this Wednesday.”
“The goal was for him to recover and get some minutes under his belt today; as always, he performed well.”
The explanation matters because a substitute appearance for Messi always invites questions. Here the club’s answer was given before kick-off in effect: a transatlantic trip, an awards ceremony, and another match on Wednesday made a managed return the sensible choice.
How the match unfolded
New York took the lead in the seventh minute when former Real Madrid and Manchester United midfielder Casemiro inadvertently turned Cade Cowell’s cross into his own net under pressure from teenage striker Julian Hall.
Messi entered the contest in the 56th minute and inspired Miami’s attack, with Telasco Segovia striking the crossbar after a defence-splitting pass from the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
However, Emil Forsberg sealed the victory with a simple finish from Cameron Harper’s pass late in the match.
The defeat also ended Messi’s run of 13 consecutive appearances for club and country with a goal contribution. That streak, built across two teams and two continents, is the kind of run that usually ends quietly, and this one did: a crossbar, a late second goal for the other side, and no contribution to show for a 34-minute appearance.
What the defeat changes
Three-match winning runs end often in a long league season, and one defeat does not undo Miami’s form. The sharper point is workload. Miami chose to protect Messi for Wednesday’s match rather than chase this one from the start, and the cost was visible: a seventh-minute own goal, a chase from behind, and a late second goal that closed the game.
Messi’s crossbar moment showed what Miami missed for the first hour. Segovia’s shot, set up by Messi’s pass, was the closest the visitors came to changing the match. Had it gone in, the final half-hour might have played out differently. It did not, and Forsberg’s finish settled matters.
Miami now turn to Wednesday with their captain rested, if not fully fresh, and with a winning run to rebuild. The Red Bulls, meanwhile, take a win built on an early break and a late finish, the two moments that decide most tight league matches.
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Frequently asked questions
What was the score between Red Bulls and Inter Miami?
New York Red Bulls beat Inter Miami 2-0 at Sports Illustrated Stadium on Saturday.
Why did Messi start on the bench?
He had travelled to Oviedo, Spain, on Thursday to receive the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports on Friday, and Miami agreed to manage his workload ahead of another match on Wednesday.
