Lionel Messi was the star of the show this Sunday at Gillette Stadium: he scored the decisive goal in the 83rd minute and assisted on the earlier equalizer to lead Inter Miami to a 2-1 comeback victory against New England Revolution, securing their qualification for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.
According to information from EFE, the Argentine star received a pass from the Venezuelan Telasco Segovia and scored with a left-footed cross-shot to secure the final score of 2-1. With this goal, Messi reached 26 goals in the regular season of the MLS 2026.
The match got off to the worst possible start for the Florida team. Hungarian Dániel Gazdag opened the scoring for New England in the 53rd minute, putting the home team ahead in a clash that was, in practice, a final for the second spot in the Eastern Conference.
Inter Miami's reaction came in the 69th minute when Mexican Germán Berterame headed in to equalize, in a play that also involved Messi. The visiting team, which had gone into halftime without scoring, completed their comeback fourteen minutes later with a goal from the Argentine captain.
The victory allowed Inter Miami to reach 59 points and surpass New England, which remained at 58, securing the second spot in the Eastern Conference. Additionally, the team broke a streak of two consecutive winless matches.
The victory holds a special significance for Messi: the Concachampions 2027 is the only major international trophy that the Argentine has yet to win with the Miami club. In the previous edition, Inter Miami was eliminated by Monterrey, so this new qualification represents a second chance.
Telasco Segovia, the 23-year-old Venezuelan midfielder who assisted Messi for the decisive goal, has been one of the team's standout players this season. Since his arrival in January 2025, the player born in Barquisimeto has made 29 appearances, scored three goals, and provided nine assists in the 2026 MLS.
Messi's season has been outstanding: before this match, he already had 25 goals, including a double against Atlanta United in mid-October, and four goals in the 7-1 rout against CF Montréal at the end of August.
The 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup will feature 27 teams and will be held from February to May next year. MLS will have six representatives, including Nashville SC, which has already secured first place in the Eastern Conference and the 2026 Supporters' Shield.
However, the second position in the East is still not entirely secured. In the final matchday of the regular season, scheduled for next week, Inter Miami will host Charlotte FC while New England will face Orlando City. With a one-point lead, Miami controls its destiny: a win guarantees them the second spot.
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