Lionel Messi came off the bench in the second half but could not prevent Inter Miami from suffering a 2-0 defeat against New York RB in Major League Soccer action on October 24, 2026, at the  Sports Illustrated Stadium in New Jersey, as reported by Diario AS. The defeat leaves Inter Miami in second place in the Eastern Conference standings with 55 points, while the hosts climbed to eighth place with 39 points to strengthen their postseason aspirations.

Early Setback and Defensive Wall in New Jersey

Inter Miami traveled to New Jersey without Lionel Messi in the initial travel plans, as the forward had traveled to Oviedo, Spain, where he received the Premio Princesa de Asturias de los Deportes 2026 on Friday, October 23. Head coach Cristian Kily González deployed a starting lineup that included Riquelme Fillipi, a 20-year-old youth acquisition who arrived in September from Palmeiras, replacing the usual tactical balance.

The visiting side’s strategy suffered an immediate blow in the seventh minute. New York RB attacker Julian Hall forced an early opening by driving down the area and launching a low cross that Brazilian midfielder Casemiro accidentally redirected past his own goalkeeper, St. Clair, for an own goal. Infobae noted that Inter Miami struggled to break down the disciplined New York defense during the opening forty-five minutes, failing to register a clear shot on target against goalkeeper Ethan Horvath. At the other end, Julian Hall nearly extended the lead before halftime, heading an opportunity just centimeters over the crossbar.

Second-Half Introduction of Lionel Messi

Manager Michael Bradley’s New York side maintained defensive control as the second half began with the hosts holding a 1-0 advantage. Ten minutes after the interval, Inter Miami made a decisive structural change, substituting Riquelme Fillipi for Lionel Messi, who entered the pitch to loud cheers from the spectators as captured by the official broadcast feed.

Messi quickly orchestrated attacking sequences from the right channel toward the center. Seconds after entering, he released Morales through on goal for a shot stopped by Horvath, while Telasco Segovia rattled the crossbar with a powerful right-footed strike from the edge of the penalty arc. Despite the late surge led by Messi, New York Red Bulls sealed the result during stoppage time. Substitute Emil Forsberg converted a decisive second goal following an assist from Cameron Harper, punishing Inter Miami’s push for an equalizer.

New York RB Boosts Playoff Chances as Inter Miami Prepares for Florida Return

With the final whistle confirming the 2-0 scoreline, New York RB collected three crucial points to reach 39 points, securing the eighth position in the Eastern Conference table and boosting their qualification chances for the postseason. Inter Miami remains firmly positioned in second place in the East with 55 points, having already clinched their qualification for the MLS playoffs prior to the fixture.

Inter Miami will now return home to Florida to host FC Cincinnati, followed by an away fixture against New England Revolution and a final regular-season match against Charlotte FC. Meanwhile, individual recognition continues to follow the Inter Miami captain; TyC Sports confirmed that Messi is nominated for the Ballon d’Or ceremony scheduled for Monday, October 26, marking the seventeenth time in his career that he has earned a nomination for the prestigious global award.