Messi Delivers Miami Comeback
Lionel Messi scored twice to lead Inter Miami's comeback victory over Orlando in the Florida Derby. Miami trailed before Messi's brace turned the match around, keeping their early season momentum strong. The win further cements Messi's transformative impact on Major League Soccer this season.
The comeback on Sunday, March 2, 2026, was sparked by a second-half offensive explosion after Inter Miami went into halftime trailing 2-0. Orlando City's Marco Pašalić and Martín Ojeda scored in the 18th and 24th minutes, respectively, creating the early deficit for the visiting Miami side. Mateo Silvetti began the rally for Inter Miami with a goal in the 49th minute, cutting the Orlando lead in half. Messi then took over, scoring the equalizer in the 57th minute with a left-footed shot from the edge of the area. The go-ahead goal came in the 85th minute from Telasco Segovia, who also contributed two assists in the match. Messi then sealed the 4-2 victory with his second goal in the 90th minute, a low free-kick that found the back of the net. This victory marked a crucial rebound for Inter Miami, the defending MLS Cup champions, who had started their 2026 season with a disappointing 3-0 loss to LAFC. The win against their Florida rivals demonstrated the team's resilience early in the campaign.
