Messi scores and assists, but Miami settle for 2-2 draw in Philadelphia (2026)

The waiting question around Lionel Messi was answered in Philadelphia: he returned to the scoresheet, but Inter Miami left with a point. Miami drew 2–2 with the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park on Wednesday, Aug. 19, while Messi supplied a goal and an assist. 1 2

Match snapshot

Field	Update
Competition	MLS regular season: Philadelphia Union vs. Inter Miami CF. 1
Final score	Philadelphia Union 2–2 Inter Miami. Neil Pierre's 58th-minute header cancelled out Miami's first-half lead. 2
Messi's line	Started; 1 goal in the 26th minute and 1 assist for Dániel Pintér in the 21st. The goal was Messi's 13th in MLS this season, and the assist moved him to nine. 1 2
Match status	Both teams finished with 10 men after Yannick Bright and Cavan Sullivan were sent off in stoppage time. 1

What changed for Messi

Messi's first contribution came from the right side of the attack. His cross found Luis Suárez, whose header redirected the ball into Pintér's path for Miami's equalizer. Five minutes later, Messi cut inside from 12 yards and curled his own finish into the corner. 1

The goal was Messi's first since he returned to Inter Miami after his father's death. His personal output came back before Miami's results did: ESPN's latest tracker says the club is winless in four matches across all competitions. 3

The team signal

Miami kept more of the ball, with 57.1% possession, but Philadelphia led 17–5 in shots. The split explains the feeling of the night: Messi created and finished two important moments, while the Union generated the larger volume of attempts and found the equalizer after halftime. 4

The point leaves Inter Miami second in the Eastern Conference on 39 points, behind Nashville SC. 4

Next watch

Inter Miami's next scheduled match is at home against Toronto FC on Saturday, Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET. That is 07:30 on Sunday, Aug. 23, in Asia/Shanghai. 2 5

The useful question for that short turnaround is whether Messi starts again. Philadelphia confirmed his scoring touch; Toronto will show whether Miami can turn that individual signal into a win.