Lionel Messi has no shortage of motivation in 2025. His Inter Miami CF won the Supporters' Shield last season, setting an MLS single-season record for points in the process, before being humbly knocked out of the playoffs in Round 1. This year, his second full campaign in the league, marks an opportunity for redemption. It's also the final season of his contract in South Florida.
Could the GOAT put pen to paper on a new deal that would run through next season and beyond the 2026 World Cup? Absolutely. In fact, the Herons expect him to do just that. But as ever in life, there are no guarantees.
So watch him while you can, savor every moment of Messi magic during his Stateside sojourn, because you never know. This could be the end.
While the Argentina captain is in MLS, ESPN is breaking down his performances for Miami game by game, providing stats and info every time he slips on a Herons jersey.
Messi's 2025 tally:
Games played: 4
Goals: 3
Assists: 2
March 16: Atlanta United 1-2 Inter Miami
Messi struck for the first time in the 2025 MLS regular season in a dramatic, late 2-1 victory at Atlanta United FC on Sunday.
Messi's goal came in the 20th minute of just his second regular season appearance for Miami, dispossessing Bartosz Slisz before weaving his way past the Atlanta defence, and then deftly chipping keeper Brad Guzan.
Lionel Messi dazzles with an equalizing goal for Inter Miami.
Feb. 25: Inter Miami 3-1 Sporting Kansas City
Miami got the better of Sporting KC on Tuesday in what is fast becoming one of Messi's favorite competitions.
The Argentine maestro scored the opening goal in the 3-1 win, meaning that he has now scored or assisted in all five Concacaf Champions Cup matches that he has played in his career (four goals, two assists).
It was a tally straight from the annals of soccer history too, with Luis Suárez crossing the ball for Messi to control and then fire home. How many times have we seen that!?
Feb. 22: Inter Miami 2-2 New York City FC
Telasco Segovia equalizes the score at 2-2 in late stoppage time to give Inter Miami a point in the season opener.
It might not have been the result Miami wanted to open the MLS season, but Messi started right where he left off last campaign; laying on two assists for his teammates in Saturday's 2-2 draw.
The first came from a well-worked routine that ended with Messi squaring the ball for Tomás Avilés to tap-in in the fifth minute. The second was even better, pushing a perfectly weighted through-ball past the NYCFC defence and into the path of Telasco Segovia, who chipped the ball over an onrushing Matthew Freese and into the net -- levelling the scores and salvaging a point for the hosts a full 10 minutes into stoppage-time.
Feb. 19: Sporting Kansas City 0-1 Inter Miami
Messi's 2025 campaign kicked off in the Concacaf Champions Cup in Kansas City on Wednesday night in truly frigid conditions, with temperatures dipping down to 3 degrees Fahrenheit. From mittens to leggings to snoods, exposed skin was a rare sight on the Children's Mercy Park pitch.
The former Barcelona legend nearly got onto the score sheet in the eighth minute with a clever pass for Suárez, whose awkward attempt scuffed wide of the far post. Considering the Uruguay international's clinical finishing, it was a surprise that the ball didn't end up in the back of the net.
Keeping Messi off the board proved a task too tall for Sporting, though. In the 56th minute, the Herons' No. 10 chested down a lofted ball from Sergio Busquets, took two touches and tucked a precise shot just inside the far post to give Miami a 1-0 lead.
MESSI WITH AN OUTRAGEOUS TOUCH AND WEAK FOOT FINISH TO PUT INTER MIAMI AHEAD IN THE FIRST LEG 😳
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 20, 2025
(via @FOXSoccer)pic.twitter.com/W034QaF49C
That's all Inter would need, though, as they took a 1-0 victory in the first leg of their Round 1 tie, claiming a crucial away goal in the process.