Inter Miami Rockets Up Google Trend #24: Messi’s Last-Minute Stunner and Major Transfer Rumors Unpacked

Inter Miami staged a dramatic 3-3 comeback against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday night at Subaru Park, a roller-coaster result that could become the turning point in the Herons’ stuttering 2025 MLS campaign. Down 2-0 at halftime and 3-1 with just three minutes of regulation left, Lionel Messi ignited a late surge with a trademark 87th-minute free-kick golazo before supplying the stoppage-time assist that sealed the draw. H2: Messi Magic Rescues Mascherano’s Men A week after publicly urging his teammates to “be more united than ever,” the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner backed up his words on the pitch. His curling 22-yard set piece flew over the wall and inside the far post, breaking the resolve of 19-year-old Union keeper Andrew Rick and silencing the Sons of Ben supporters’ section. Five minutes later, Messi slipped a perfectly weighted through-ball to Venezuelan midfielder Telasco Segovia, whose emphatic finish salvaged a priceless point. H2: Key Numbers From the Six-Goal Thriller • Messi’s goal was his sixth of the 2025 MLS season and his third direct free-kick strike in league play. • Telasco Segovia’s leveller was his fourth goal contribution in his last five appearances, underlining his growing influence as Inter Miami’s box-to-box engine. • Despite conceding twice to Philadelphia’s Tai Baribo, Miami center-back partnership Tomás Avilés and Ian Fray won 75 percent of their aerial duels, an improvement on the 61 percent they posted in the previous three losses. • The draw ended Miami’s run of five defeats in seven matches and pushed Javier Mascherano’s side to 20 points, still ninth in the Eastern Conference but only three points off a playoff berth with games in hand. H2: Tactical Tweaks Spark Second-Half Revival Mascherano abandoned his usual 4-3-3 for a more fluid 3-5-2 after the break, pushing full-backs Jordi Alba and DeAndre Yedlin higher to pin Philadelphia’s wide threats. The shift freed Argentine winger Tadeo Allende, whose 60-minute strike cut the deficit to 2-1 and began the momentum swing. Although Baribo restored the Union’s cushion moments later, Miami’s positional bravery created space between the lines—space Messi punished twice in the dying moments. H2: “We Showed Soul and Fight” – Post-Match Reactions Head coach Javier Mascherano praised his players’ mentality: “I told them at halftime the result was my responsibility. Their job was to play with freedom. Tonight, they showed character, soul, and the willingness to battle until the final whistle.” Philadelphia manager Jim Curtin, meanwhile, lamented a “missed opportunity” to cement the Union’s best 15-game start in club history. H2: What the Result Means for Inter Miami’s Season With the expanded Club World Cup looming on June 14, Miami desperately needed positive momentum. The Herons face CF Montréal on Wednesday at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale before a tricky trip to the high-pressing Columbus Crew. Collecting at least four points from those fixtures would restore belief ahead of global competition and cool speculation about Mascherano’s future. H3: Injury and Squad Notes • Luis Suárez (hamstring) remains day-to-day; the staff hopes to have him fit for the Montréal match. • Goalkeeper Drake Callender has resumed light training after a sprained ankle but was left out of the match-day squad; veteran Óscar Ustari started in goal. • Rumors continue swirling around a potential contract extension for Messi through the 2026 season, something Mascherano said would bring “tranquility” to the locker room. H2: Next Steps – Can Miami Turn a Draw Into a Springboard? History suggests that late fightbacks can galvanize a squad—especially one spearheaded by Messi. If Inter Miami can tighten its back line and convert chances earlier, the Eastern Conference playoff race is still wide open. The club’s high-profile summer schedule, spanning MLS, the Club World Cup, and the Leagues Cup, ensures global eyeballs; consistency on the field will determine whether those views translate into silverware. H3: Bottom Line Inter Miami’s chaotic draw in Chester may feel like two points dropped, but the psychological boost of a last-gasp rescue led by Lionel Messi could prove invaluable. For a franchise that prides itself on headline moments, Saturday night delivered—and set the stage for a pivotal stretch that will define the Herons’ 2025 narrative.