15 Oct 2026

Messi lifts Inter Miami vs NYCFC: 7.6 on Sofascore

Inter Miami CF beat New York City FC 2-0 at Nu Stadium, and Lionel Messi had his fingerprints all over it. The Argentine set up one of the goals and finished with a 7.6 Sofascore Rating, blending control with constant threat. Here is how his night in MLS looked, number by number.

Playmaker-in-chief for Inter Miami

Messi dictated the tempo in the final third, completing 37 of 46 passes at 80% accuracy. He went 30 of 37 in the opposition half, repeatedly finding angles to move Inter Miami upfield. Four key passes and one big chance created told the story of his vision. The assist capped that work, a clean final ball to finish a well-built move. Even deep, he kept it tidy with 7 of 9 passes completed in his own half.

Range was on point too, with 4 out of 4 long balls dropping where needed. He attempted two crosses to vary the delivery, keeping NYCFC’s back line guessing. Across 61 touches, he kept Inter Miami’s attacks stitched together and ready to strike. It was the sort of playmaking platform that often earns Inter Miami control early, as it did in this 2-0 win.

Shooting volume, mixed returns

Messi put up 7 shots, a sign of steady pressure on NYCFC’s box. Only one hit the target, with four blocked and two off frame as defenders closed fast. His expected goals landed at 1.14, reflecting how often he found promising positions. Expected goals on target came in at 0.78, underlining that the best looks did test the keeper.

He did miss one big chance, the main reason the shot value metric read slightly negative on the night. That -0.62 shot value is balanced by a strong 0.68 pass value, which matches what the eye test suggested. When the finishing touch wasn’t there, the creativity was. Put together, it explains a 7.6 Sofascore Rating that leaned on chance creation as much as it did intent to shoot.

Carrying the ball and breaking lines

With 23 ball carries totaling 217.51 meters, Messi kept pulling NYCFC into uncomfortable spaces. He produced 101.81 meters of progressive carrying, nudging Inter Miami closer to goal with each surge. His best single carry advanced play by 35.92 meters, a snapshot of how quickly he can flip field position. Overall progression reached 117.34 meters, turning small pockets into real territory. A 0.46 dribble value added another positive layer to his movement profile.

Risk came with the reward, with possession lost 13 times and one dispossession under heavy traffic. In duels, he won 1 of 3, often drawing extra attention that freed teammates. That gravity helps explain why passing lanes kept opening and why runners found space to receive. It was steady, sensible carrying rather than showy dribbling, yet it kept New York City FC chasing.

How it stacks up in MLS 2026

This outing fits neatly within a standout MLS season for Messi. Across 26 appearances and 25 starts, he has 23 goals and 12 assists for 35 goal contributions. He averages a Sofascore Rating of 8.41, with 70 key passes and 22 big chances created fueling Inter Miami’s attack. Free kicks have mattered too, with 6 goals from set pieces and 20 goals scored with his left foot. He has fired 164 shots and hit the woodwork 11 times, a reminder of how constant the threat is.