By Dogli Wilberforce Total Apex Sports

Copyright

Lionel Messi delivered a stunning performance to lead Inter Miami to a 3-1 victory over the Seattle Sounders at Chase Stadium, avenging their 3-0 loss to the same opponent in the Leagues Cup final just over two weeks earlier. This highly anticipated rematch showcased Messi’s brilliance, as he scored his 20th Major League Soccer goal of the season and provided a crucial assist, underlining both his individual brilliance and the tactical adjustments made by Miami’s Coach, Javier Mascherano.

Lionel Messi

Right from kickoff, Messi looked determined to make a statement. He dropped deep to collect the ball, dictated tempo, and forced Seattle’s back line to stay on their toes. In the 12th minute, he spotted a gap no one else saw, receiving a quick interception from Yannick Bright, then threading a perfectly weighted pass to Jordi Alba on the left flank. Alba tucked it home with ease, and just like that, Miami were off and running.

Messi wasn’t done. Around the 28th minute, he nearly doubled the lead with a curling strike from outside the box that smacked the post and bounced out. It felt like he was playing on a different wavelength, gliding between defenders while everyone else struggled to keep up. And just before halftime, he got his goal, timing a clever run into the box to meet an Alba cross, slotting it in with that trademark calm left foot. It was his 20th goal of the season, and maybe one of his most satisfying yet.

Inter Miami

While Messi rightly stole the headlines, the rest of the Inter Miami team deserves credit for how sharply they approached this rematch. Mascherano’s tactics were clear: control possession, avoid getting dragged into Seattle’s physical style, and press as a unit. That plan worked almost flawlessly.

Midfielders like Sergio Busquets and Bright kept recycling possession, while Alba and DeAndre Yedlin bombed forward from the fullback spots to overload the flanks. The team looked composed, confident, and patient, completely different from the flat side that got battered in the Leagues Cup final.

Even after Seattle pulled one back in the 62nd minute, Miami didn’t panic. Instead, they slowed the tempo, drew fouls, and waited for their chance to strike again. In the 78th minute, Leonardo Campana sealed the win with a cool finish from inside the box, capping off what felt like a statement performance from the whole squad.

Seattle Sounders

For the Seattle Sounders, this match was a harsh reminder that beating Miami once doesn’t guarantee you can do it again, especially not when Messi’s locked in. The team started slow, sat too deep early on, and allowed Miami to dictate every major spell of play. When they did wake up after halftime, it was too late.

Their lone goal, a scrappy header off a corner, gave them a brief lifeline, but Miami’s midfield press smothered any real comeback hopes. Seattle will no doubt be frustrated by their passive first half, but more than anything, they’ll know they ran into a team and a superstar that came seeking payback.