On September 21 (Beijing Time), in Matchday 26 of Major League Soccer, Inter Miami played out a 2-2 draw at home against San Diego FC. The night belonged to Messi—he scored the 930th goal of his career, becoming the youngest player in history to reach that number in official matches. But it also belonged to Inter Miami’s regret—a fourth consecutive league draw, dropping points once again after taking the lead.
The match was full of twists and turns. In the 12th minute, San Diego FC’s Dreyer beat the offside trap, went one-on-one, and dinked the ball home to give the visitors the lead. In the 24th minute, Messi took a free kick just outside the box. The ball seemed to be both a cross and a shot; neither his teammates nor the opposing goalkeeper touched it, and it crept directly into the net. Inter Miami equalized at 1-1. In the 74th minute, De Paul delivered a defense-splitting pass, and Suárez beat the offside trap and fired into the far corner from a tight angle to put Miami 2-1 ahead. But in the 82nd minute, Inter Miami’s defense was exposed again. Dreyer scored his second of the night with another one-on-one finish, making it 2-2. Inter Miami had to settle for a draw.
Messi’s goal was the 930th of his career, making him, at 39, the youngest player ever to reach that number in official matches. It was also the 75th direct free-kick goal of his career, leaving him just three short of the record of 78 held by Brazilian legend Marcelinho. With the goal in this match, Messi’s regular-season stats in MLS this season reached 20 goals and 13 assists. He also became the first player in MLS history to record 20+ goals and 10+ assists in three consecutive seasons: 20 goals and 16 assists in 2024, 29 goals and 19 assists in 2025, and 20 goals and 13 assists so far in 2026. Such consistency is especially remarkable at the age of 39.
Yet individual brilliance could not hide the team’s troubles. Inter Miami suffered a fourth straight league draw. After the match, head coach González said, “I know he’s angry,” reflecting the team’s frustration at repeatedly being pegged back after taking the lead. With 46 points from 26 matches, Inter Miami currently sits third in the Eastern Conference and remains in the automatic playoff qualification places, but the string of dropped points has cast a shadow over their title ambitions.
For Messi, 930 goals is another monument, but football is ultimately a team sport. If Inter Miami want to go far in the playoffs, they must solve their defensive concentration problems. Messi’s anger may be exactly the wake-up call the team needs. Next, Inter Miami need to end their run of draws as soon as possible, and Messi’s free-kick record is also within reach. Fans have reason to hope that in the next home match, Messi can celebrate both a milestone and a team rebound with a goal and a win.
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