Only 17 years later, they both had a say in the outcome for their teams on Saturday night.

Messi helped set up Germán Berterame for a second-half goal that gave Inter Miami its first lead in its new stadium, and Mehmeti's first MLS goal in the 77th minute pulled the New York Red Bulls into a 2-2 tie with Messi and the defending MLS Cup champions on Saturday night.

Mateo Silvetti also scored for Inter Miami (3-1-3), which is now unbeaten in its last six MLS matches. Jorge Ruvalcaba scored for the Red Bulls (3-2-2), who have one win in their last five matches but rallied to get a point out of this one after wasting an early 1-0 lead.

Berterame's goal looked like it would give Inter Miami some control.

There were no fewer than four defenders within a couple of yards of Messi — two of them squarely between him and the net — as he brought the ball toward the box in the 55th minute, and with all those eyeballs on him nobody seemed to be marking Berterame just to his left.

No shot, no problem. In fact, it was a bit of a bad break for the Red Bulls.

Messi had the ball knocked away but it simply rolled toward Berterame, who one-timed it with his right foot for a 2-1 lead — with the greatest player ever being the first to wrap him in a celebratory headlock after the goal. It gave Inter Miami its first lead in about 150 minutes of play over two matches in its new stadium, which opened last weekend with a draw against Austin FC.

But a pair of kids made sure the lead didn't last.

Julian Hall, 18, set up Mehmeti for the equalizer, finding space near the goal line and putting the ball into the perfect spot.

Messi had a chance in the 49th minute from about 12 yards out. He got the ball near the top of the box, stopped on a dime as Red Bulls defender Matthew Dos Santos went sliding past, flicked the ball to his left foot, and tried a shot to the near post. It went just wide as he fell to the turf.

Both teams had goals waved off by offside calls — New York's following a review — in the second half. Messi also had a 25-yard free kick stopped by Red Bulls goalie Ethan Horvath in the 94th minute.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

The sounds of cheering echoed outside the venue as supporters lined up to enter, with the stadium quickly filling once gates opened. Many fans said the moment felt years in the making and brought renewed optimism for the team's future.

"Surreal! Surreal! It has been so many years in the making," said fan Gonzalo Galvez.

Others pointed to the atmosphere and championship momentum as reasons for excitement.

"It's going to be a great stadium. Great field. Great vibes. Great spirit. And we're champs!" said Raul Cabrera.

Miami CF fans embrace long-awaited home stadium

The new venue, part of the Freedom Park development, marks a significant shift for Inter Miami after seasons spent playing in Fort Lauderdale at Chase Stadium. Fans said the move finally gives the club a permanent identity in Miami.

"We have a stadium we can actually call home now. We can come here every weekend and it's actually ours," said Wesley Louissaint.

Despite the unfinished construction, the team was able to host the match after securing a limited event permit from the City of Miami.

Traffic concerns linger, but opening night runs smoothly

With the stadium located next to Miami International Airport and only two main access roads leading into the area, traffic had been a major concern heading into opening night.

But several fans said their experience getting to the game was easier than expected.

"I live in southwest Kendall and I got here in about 20 minutes. It wasn't that bad," Galvez said.

"Actually, when we came in it took us about five minutes. People were flowing trying to get to the stadium," Jason Cabrera said.

Parking also appeared to be an improvement compared to the team's previous home.

"Parking is a lot easier now because parking in the other place was horrendous," Cabrera added.

Even with construction noise and unfinished areas around the stadium, fans said the focus remained on the action on the field — and the chance to watch Lionel Messi in a venue they can now call their own.

Messi scored on a header in the 10th minute, and Suárez hammered home a volley in the 82nd as Inter Miami rallied for a 2-2 draw against Austin FC on Saturday night. The match marked the club's long-awaited debut at its still-under-construction stadium near Miami International Airport.

Inter Miami (3-1-2) extended its unbeaten streak to five MLS matches, while Austin (1-2-3) stretched its winless run to four.

Messi, Suárez deliver in stadium debut

Austin struck first, taking a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute on a goal from Guilherme Biro — the first ever scored at the new stadium. Messi responded just four minutes later, heading home the equalizer to ignite the home crowd.

The visitors regained control early in the second half when Jayden Nelson, a halftime substitute, made it 2-1 in the 53rd minute after breaking behind the defense and finishing past goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair.

But Inter Miami answered again late. Suárez found space in the box and drilled a volley in the 82nd minute to level the match at 2-2.

The Herons pushed for a winner in the closing minutes. Mateo Silvetti had a prime chance in the 87th minute but sent his attempt over the bar. Suárez thought he had a stoppage-time winner off a Messi free kick, but the goal was ruled offside. Moments later, Messi forced a diving save from Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver to keep the match level.

Inter Miami stays unbeaten as MLS spotlight grows

MLS Commissioner Don Garber attended the match and praised the moment as a sign of the league's continued growth, crediting David Beckham for helping bring the club to this stage.

"I think our best days are still ahead," Garber said. "David shined a light on our league, and Leo's taking that torch and showing it around. We're getting calls from players around the world."

Inter Miami, now in its seventh MLS season and third with Messi, had previously played its home matches in Fort Lauderdale.

Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver said his team embraced the challenge of facing the defending MLS champions on such a significant night.

"We got to be the villains," Stuver said.

Austin will host the LA Galaxy on April 11, while Inter Miami returns home to face the New York Red Bulls the same day.

Miami Police say to expect major delays before and after the match, which is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Police say residential streets around Miami Freedom Park are restricted to residents only, and officers will be enforcing the closures.

Miami International Airport is warning travelers to expect delays and plan ahead. Officials expect more traffic between 4-11 p.m., particularly at airport entrances and exits on Le Jeune Road and Douglas Road. Stadium parking opens at 4:30 p.m.

Fans Karenza Oliver and her father, Otis Harvey, who are Inter Miami fans, plan to wait until the third or fourth home game to check out the new stadium. Oliver noted the limited access points.

"I think that it's a great location, you can see it from the interstate and all of the bells and whistles, but at the same time, when you're actually trying to get in there or out of there, those access points are very limited, so we'll just have to see how that works," Oliver said.

Harvey explained their decision to wait. "They've got to get it right first. I don't want to be in any long lines at the stadium. They got to figure it out by the third time. They should have it together by the fourth time. That's why we're waiting," he said. Despite the anticipated congestion, Harvey added, "It's nice, it's a great addition to the city, I can tell you that."

Fans are encouraged to take public transportation, like the Tri-Rail, Metrorail, or bus, to get to the game, with the Miami Intermodal Center a short walk away. As an added incentive, fans will receive a $10 food and beverage credit at the stadium if they show their proof of public transportation and match ticket at the guest services booth.

If you are planning to drive and want to park at the stadium, you must purchase parking passes in advance, as they are expected to sell out.

The new home base for Inter Miami has already welcomed season ticket holders for a sneak peek before the big day, allowing fans to see Lionel Messi and his teammates during a training session. Defender Noah Allen noted the atmosphere, saying, "Fans make it feel more real. I walked in, and it felt cool."

Though the MLS Cup Champions are early in their season, returning home for Week 6, the team is focused on the game. "We're keeping the main thing, the main thing," Allen said.

Managing Owner Jorge Mas expressed excitement for the team's future, even as construction continues on the final touches, from the building itself down to the seat numbers.

Adding to the fan experience, the stadium features a team store with Messi statues and new gear, including an option to make a personalized bobblehead. The team also added a unique feature: the "Lionel Messi Stand," named after the star, where fans can get some of the best views of the game.

The Miami native discussed the pride of representing his city, just a few miles down the road from his mother's restaurant in Little Havana.

For Ruiz, it will be a homecoming at the site that is now Miami Freedom Park. He recalled growing up near the location.

"I used to go to a water park, literally right next to a [Grape Land] water park," Ruiz said. "I literally live 3 miles away from where it's at right now. And just seeing how it went from being straight dirt to where it's at right now is incredible."

Just 3 miles from the stadium is a place near and dear to his heart. Right on Calle Ocho is his mother's establishment, Alba's Café and Restaurant, where she has proudly displayed all his soccer achievements. Soccer fans and supporter groups often come to the restaurant for the matches but stay for the food.

"I get the pollo chuco," he said. "It's just amazing. It's literally chicken with plantains, and it's just the Sazón that they use. It's just amazing."

What is truly amazing is that Ruiz is getting to live out his childhood dream at home. Since his father passed away, it is now David, his mother, and his four brothers.

Ruiz says he feels blessed to be a professional athlete in the city he grew up in, but sharing these moments with his mother makes it all the more special. It's a small thank you he can give his mom for the sacrifices she's made, including getting to "rub elbows" with international superstar Lionel Messi.

"I just feel like a lot of things happen for a reason," Ruiz explained. "You know, my mom has been through it all, all the sacrifices that she's made. Playing locally, we'd have to have one game, and we'd have to go to Tampa, we'd have to go to Orlando, and it was just trips that she probably had to call the day off. But yes, she'll do it with a smile on her face."

Now they're smiling together and getting ready for a very short drive to the new stadium, his new home.

"Every little kid's dream, you know, and being able to be that privileged person. Honestly, I've just got to thank God you know that he has me where he has me, and honestly, just looking forward to Saturday to go there and have fun."

Messi got the 900th goal of his career, but Cristian Espinoza scored in the 74th minute to give Nashville a good-enough-to-advance 1-1 tie with Inter Miami in the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 matchup on Wednesday night.

The teams tied both legs of the matchup, after a 0-0 game in Nashville started the series last week. Away goals were the tiebreaker, meaning Nashville will move onto the tournament's quarterfinals – denying the reigning MLS champions' bid for another trophy.

"Our goal and our club ambition is to compete against the best of North America, Central American and the Caribbean," Nashville coach B.J. Callaghan said. "That's what this tournament does, brings the best of the best together. ... If you want to become an elite team and an elite club, you need to be able to perform in a prestigious tournament like this."

Espinoza scored on a wild play where he was in the right place at the right time.

Nashville's Alex Muyl took a shot that was blocked by a sliding Inter Miami defender Gonzalo Luján. The ball ricocheted off Luján and into the air, the topspin carrying it toward the goal mouth and Inter Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair had to scramble to his feet in order to punch it away.

He didn't punch it far. St. Clair's momentum carried him into the net, where three other Inter Miami defenders also wound up, and Espinoza had an easy goal to pull the match even.

"The match was clearly in jeopardy because it was a game against a great opponent," Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said. "Unfortunately, we conceded a goal following an unlucky play. A lot of things happen in a game and, well, we're out."

It was Inter Miami's first match at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale since last season's MLS Cup final – and, if all stays according to plan, it may be the club's last match in the facility as well. Messi's team doesn't play a home MLS match until April 4, when it is scheduled to open its new stadium near Miami International Airport.

And if this was the Fort Lauderdale finale, it wasn't a loss – but probably felt like one.

Messi, the Argentinian superstar, scored his 900th career goal in the seventh minute for a 1-0 lead. It was quintessential Messi, with him making something out of very little.

He was well-defended when he took the pass with his back to the net, about 12 yards from the goal mouth and with other players creating more traffic in front of the goal.

No problem.

He turned and his left foot sent the ball skittering across the wet grass on a rainy night in South Florida, actually getting it through the legs of Nashville defender Jeisson Palacios and past the left arm of diving goalkeeper Brian Schwake for the opening goal.

But Inter Miami didn't score again, and eventually Nashville broke through.

Nashville had a great chance to tie it in the 67th minute, when Hany Mukhtar – despite Inter Miami arguing that he was offside, and replays suggesting that the Herons had a case – got free in the middle of the field.

Mukhtar came in alone on St. Clair, but wound up missing the net. A few minutes later, that was all forgotten. Messi had one good chance in the four minutes of stoppage time, but the shot was blocked away and soon afterward Nashville was moving on.

"I think we have a group right now in that locker room that has a lot of belief in what we're doing ... a relentless spirit," Callaghan said. "Just really proud of the entire group."

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Nu Stadium, a 26,700-seat facility that remains under construction, is scheduled to play host to its first match on April 4.

Terms of the deal that was announced on Wednesday were not revealed, other than it is a multiyear agreement.

Nu will have its logo on Inter Miami's jerseys starting in August, the team said. 

Inter Miami's jerseys – fueled by the immense global following that Lionel Messi has – are among the best-selling in the world.

Nu, a digital-first bank with 131 million customers across Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia, is expanding to the U.S. It entered into a partnership with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas team in Formula 1 racing earlier this year.

Messi took a pass from Segovia and scored in the 57th minute to pull Inter Miami (1-1-0) even at 2-2 and Segovia scored unassisted in the 85th for the lead. Messi put the finishing touch on the victory when he scored off a free kick in the 90th. The reigning MVP's first two goals of the season give him 52 in his first 55 regular-season MLS matches — 51 of them in his last 49 appearances.

Marco Pašalić took a pass from Iván Angulo and scored in the 18th minute to give Orlando City (0-2-0) a 1-0 lead. Pašalić has scored in four straight matches against Inter Miami.

Defender Griffin Dorsey set up Martín Ojeda for a goal six minutes later for a 2-0 advantage that stood through halftime.

Inter Miami cut it to 2-1 four minutes into the second half on Mateo Silvetti's first career goal. Defenders Segovia and Facundo Mura had assists as the 20-year-old forward found the net in his fifth career appearance. Segovia had eight goals and six assists as a rookie last season, while Mura collected his first assist in his first season.

Dayne St. Clair, the reigning goalkeeper of the year, turned away three shots — all in the second half of his second start with Inter Miami.

Maxime Crépeau had four saves in his second start for Orlando City.

Teenager Colin Guske, 19, will miss Orlando City's next match after the rookie picked up two yellow cards in his first start — the second one led to his exit in the 88th minute.

Inter Miami, which had never won in its previous nine trips to Orlando, was coming off a 3-0 road loss to Los Angeles FC.

Orlando City swept Inter Miami during the regular season last year and leads the all-time series 8-7-4.

Inter Miami: At D.C. United on Saturday.

Orlando City: At New York City FC on Saturday.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer

The Uruguayan striker, who will turn 39 in January, signed a contract to play the 2026 season with the reigning MLS champions, Inter Miami announced Wednesday. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Suárez will join back-to-back MLS MVP Messi for the opening of the team's new stadium, located near Miami International Airport. It will be Suárez's third season with Inter Miami.

The former Barcelona, Liverpool, Atlético Madrid and Ajax player scored 17 goals with 17 assists in 50 appearances across all competitions this past season but had a reduced role in the last four matches of the MLS Cup playoffs and did not play in the 3-1 victory against the Vancouver Whitecaps in the final.

The veteran joined Inter Miami ahead of the 2024 season and helped the club clinch its first Supporters' Shield title. He led the team in goals with 25 across all competitions, and his 20 regular-season goals were second most among all players in MLS in 2024 (tied with Messi).

Inter Miami has seen a bit of roster shuffling since the end of the season, with veterans Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets retiring. The club's roster for next season continued taking shape last week, when it announced the signing of defender Ian Fray to an extension that runs through the 2028-29 season.

Fray had one goal and four assists in 35 appearances across all competitions this season for Inter Miami. He missed the 2021 and 2022 seasons with injuries.

"To continue this journey here feels amazing, this club has put so much trust in me for the last five years I've been here," Fray said. "Going through injuries, they kept their trust in me to sign a new contract and now we've won the MLS Cup, so I'm excited for next year."

Inter Miami declined contract options on Fafa Picault and William Yarbrough, has let Ryan Sailor's deal expire and has seen the loan of Marcelo Weigandt to the club expire as well.

It continues talking to longtime Lionel Messi teammate Luis Suárez about a new deal and has interest in bringing back four other players whose loans to the club have expired — Allen Obando, Rocco Rios Novo, Baltasar Rodriguez and playoff breakout star Tadeo Allende.

He didn't need an MLS Cup. But he wanted one — and got it.

Messi and Inter Miami have completed their ascent, beating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 on Saturday in the MLS Cup final for the franchise's first championship. It came 2 1/2 years after the legend arrived in South Florida, a move that stunned plenty of onlookers at the time.  

He set up the title-clinching goal with a 72nd-minute assist to Rodrigo De Paul, a play where Messi stole the ball and threaded a pass through a tiny gap in a wall of Vancouver defenders. De Paul got it in stride, pushed it into the far corner of the net — and Messi went airborne to hop into his arms a few seconds later, all smiles.

And as the final minutes ticked away, Inter Miami's pink-clad fans — most wearing Messi's No. 10 on their backs — stood and stomped and cheered. South Florida has seen NFL and NBA and Major League Baseball and NHL titles in the past.

It's a soccer town now, too. Messi made that happen. Tadeo Allende scored in the sixth minute of stoppage time — off another Messi assist, of course — to make it 3-1.

Inter Miami became the 16th franchise in the league's 30-year history to win an MLS title. And this extends a run of parity for MLS, which has seen five different franchises win championships in the last five years and eight franchises claim a title in the last nine seasons — only Columbus has won twice in that span.

CBS Miami will have a streaming special with all the postgame analysis and fan reaction right after the match on the CBS News Miami stream and Pluto TV.

The Herons will host the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS Cup Final on Saturday as they look to secure a trophy to end the season on a high note.

Here's everything you need to know about the MLS Cup Final between Inter Miami CF and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

How to watch Inter Miami vs. Vancouver Whitecaps

Inter Miami will face off against Vancouver on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 2:30 p.m. ET at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

If Miami and Vancouver fans are unable to attend the game in person, they can watch it either on FOX or stream it on Apple TV with the MLS Season Pass.

Age is just a number for Lionel Messi

Even at his age, Messi was by far the best player in MLS this season.

According to CBS Sports, he currently leads the league in goals with 29 — five more than anyone else — 19 assists (tied with Danish soccer player and San Diego FC right winger Anders Dreyer), and 157 shots. Of those goals, 28 of them were non-penalty goals: an MLS record. Messi accomplished all of this while only playing 28 games in a 34-game regular season schedule. Messi may be 38, but he remains an unstoppable force that the soccer world has never seen.

And when the MLS Playoffs started, things only got better for the Argentine star and the Herons.

With 13 goal contributions during the playoffs, no player has more in league history, and Messi's six goals are second only to his teammate Tadeo Allende, while his seven assists (including secondary assists) lead all players, CBS Sports reports. He's done this in just five games, but it's unheard of for a single player to have the same level of involvement as Messi has — Miami's first 12 playoff goals were scored or assisted by the Argentine phenomenon, the most of any player.

Messi won't be alone in the trophy hunt

According to CBS Sports, adjustments made by Miami Head Coach Javier Mascherano have the team firing on all cylinders. Still, one thing has been made clear during the MLS Playoffs: Inter Miami will go as far as Messi can take them.    

A MLS team has never won the MLS Cup with a single player contributing to all their goals, and thanks to Allende's emergence as a worthy sidekick, Miami won't have to try and become the first as they seek their first title in club history. It's still Messi's show, though, as he has made the unheard of seem regular, and this run is no different.

While a league MVP has yet to be announced, it'd be a surprise for anyone other than Messi to win the award, CBS Sports reports, as he's arguably having the best season of anyone to ever come through MLS.

Messi may not have a trophy to mark what he's done yet, but with Miami becoming the first MLS team to ever defeat a team from a European top-five league when they triumphed over FC Porto during the Club World Cup, this is a team showing what the possibilities are for MLS, and a large reason for that is Messi's impact.

Messi vs. Müller

While the MLS Cup will be the first time they've ever met in MLS play, regardless of club and country, Messi and Vancouver star Thomas Müller of Germany have an extensive history.

According to CBS Sports, in their 10 faceoffs, Müller has won seven matches while Messi has won just three, with zero draws.

The only time these two soccer powerhouses met with a trophy on the line was in 2014, when Müller and the German national team defeated Messi and Argentina in the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Both teams come to win their first MLS Cup

While the Messi era has brought Miami a Supporters' Shield and Leagues Cup trophy, the MLS Cup title is the one that the team has yet to achieve, and Vancouver will be standing in their way to do so.

According to CBS Sports, neither Miami nor Vancouver has won the MLS Cup, but that doesn't mean Miami won't have enough experience to get them through the match in front of their fans.

Looking to not only send Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets into retirement on a high but also close out Chase Stadium with a trophy, all the pressure will be on Inter Miami to get the job done.

That's part of why the playoffs have had a different intensity to them this season. With last season's first-round exit to Atlanta United in the past, this season won't be considered a success without a trophy. Just having Messi in the side raises the expectations for Inter Miami above what has ever been expected from any MLS team, and they can reach those, but not winning the Cup will only bring more questions for the Herons.

Messi and Inter Miami will take on Thomas Müller — one of his longtime rivals — and the Vancouver Whitecaps for Major League Soccer's championship. It's the first final for both clubs, which means MLS is about to have a first-time champion.

But for Messi, it's the end of a couple of eras. It's the last match planned at Inter Miami's current home, with the team set to move into a still-under-construction stadium near Miami International Airport next season. And barring some serious changes of heart, it'll be the last time he gets to play with longtime teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets — they're both retiring after Saturday — and possibly Luis Suarez as well.

"I'm very grateful for the career I've had, the teams I've played for, everything I've learned, everything I've enjoyed, and well, it's been a privilege," Alba said in Spanish on Thursday. "Yes, it's a week with a lot of emotions, knowing that it's going to be my last game ... and hopefully, I end my career in the best possible scenario, in a final and we win."

It's not like Messi needs this win for his legacy; Argentina's star — a winner of 46 championships for club and country worldwide, the most in history — is widely considered the greatest player ever and Saturday's outcome won't help or hurt that reputation. Same goes for Müller, the German great who has been on the winning end of a World Cup final in which he played against Messi (and Javier Mascherano, now the Inter Miami coach).

That said, Saturday will bring at least one first: If Vancouver wins, Müller will be the first player to win a World Cup and an MLS Cup. If Inter Miami wins, Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Busquets will become the first trio to say they were both a World Cup and an MLS champion.

"We are going to have four World Cup winners on the pitch," Mascherano said. "I think it's very, very interesting for the league."

Müller — part of more than 30 trophy wins for club and country himself — was asked how the MLS Cup ranks on his list.

"At the moment, I rank it No. 1," Muller said. "Because it's the only final that we are talking about. It's upcoming. At the moment, for me, this final on Saturday is the most important thing in my life."

He then paused a bit.

"That's a good line, ah?" he asked, laughing at his joke.

But clearly, the MLS Cup is something that both teams want badly. For Inter Miami, it's a chance to prove that bringing in the Barcelona foursome — Messi, Alba, Suarez and Busquets — was all worth it. For Vancouver, which beat Inter Miami twice this season in the CONCACAF Champions League, it's a chance to win a trophy and go through Messi to get it done.

"Obviously, they were much better than us in April," Mascherano said. "But the situation is not the same. We are in a different situation. We arrive to this final with confidence, with some different players. And we know that they have a very, very good team."

Of late...

Inter Miami is 10-2-1 in its last 13 matches, going back to the regular season. The team has been particularly dominant in three win-or-go-home matches during these MLS playoffs, winning those by a combined score of 13-1.

Vancouver is 7-1-5 in its last 13 matches and has given up a total of 17 goals in its last 17 matches against MLS opponents.

Home edge

The team playing in its home stadium, or home market, has won 11 of the last 14 MLS Cup titles. Of the three that lost in that scenario, two fell in penalty kicks.

Vancouver won at Inter Miami in April in the CONCACAF semifinals. Inter Miami is 16-2-2 across all competitions at home since.

"We've been ready for this this whole season," Vancouver midfielder Sebastian Berhalter said. "The pressure, it comes with it. It's a privilege and it's fun and I think you know our guys are going to lean into it and enjoy it. Home team, away team, I don't think it matters."

Tadeo Allande scored three goals — Alba and Busquets, a pair of longtime Messi teammates who will retire when this season ends, had the assists on his first two — and Inter Miami topped New York City FC 5-1 on Saturday night for the Eastern Conference title and a berth in the MLS Cup final.

Mateo Silvetti scored in the 67th minute for Inter Miami, with Messi setting up that goal — the 405th assist of his career for club and country, which is generally believed to be the most in soccer history. Telasco Segovia scored off a heel pass from Alba in the 83rd minute to turn it into a runaway, and Allande finishing off the hat trick in the 89th minute was the final play.

Inter Miami — the No. 3 seed in the East — will play host to either San Diego or Vancouver for the league title on Dec. 6 at 2:30 p.m. Eastern. San Diego and Vancouver play for the Western Conference title later Saturday night.

It'll be the first MLS final appearance for Inter Miami, which had never made it past the opening postseason round in any of its first five seasons. Messi's club went 0-2 against Vancouver this season, losing both legs of a semifinal meeting in the CONCACAF Champions Cup by a 5-1 aggregate.

Justin Haak scored in the 37th minute for NYCFC, which went 0-2-1 against Inter Miami this season.

The win moves Inter Miami one step closer to another trophy, after winning the Leagues Cup in 2023 and the Supporters' Shield as MLS' top regular-season team last year. Messi, a World Cup champion for Argentina and now eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, joined the team midway through the 2023 season when it was at the bottom of the MLS standings and in an 11-match winless streak.

Now? The club's brand is global, Messi's No. 10 jersey in the club's pink kit is sold all over the world, a new stadium near Miami International Airport is on the way for next season, Messi is signed through 2028, he seems like a lock to win his second consecutive MLS MVP award and the team is on the brink of an MLS title.

Stars flock to see this team because of Messi; tennis great Carlos Alcaraz was there Saturday night, as were some members of the U.S. women's national team.

"Everyone in the world knows who Lionel Messi is. ... I think everyone thought he would come in here and do exactly what he's done," said U.S. women's forward Lindsay Horan — whose Messi fandom goes back many years.

Messi got struck along the left side of his head in the ninth minute and was briefly shaken up, remaining down near the center circle for a few seconds before eventually getting to his feet. He got tripped with Inter Miami on the attack about two minutes later, then took a direct kick from about 30 yards out — playing it into the box, but Silvetti's header was easily caught by NYCFC goalie Matt Freese.

Inter Miami's next chance came a minute later. This one was cashed in — a long pass from Busquets was controlled by Allende, who easily beat Freese from about 12 yards out for a 1-0 lead.

Allende struck again on a header off a long pass from Alba in the 23rd minute, making it 2-0. And after Messi set Silvetti up for the 3-1 lead, what essentially was a 25-minute or so countdown to a celebration was underway.

Miami will take on the winner of Sunday's other conference semifinal between the Philadelphia Union and New York City FC.

Messi set an MLS playoff record with 12 goal contributions (six goals, six assists).

Cincinnati had the second-best overall record in MLS behind Philadelphia after winning the Supporters Shield last season. Cincinnati lost to the Columbus Crew in last year's conference finals.

Messi had been scoreless in three matches against Cincinnati, but that streak ended in the 19th minute Sunday when he headed a short cross from Mateo Silvetti, giving Miami a 1-0 lead. Messi, a World Cup champion with Argentina and eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, had his 11th goal in the last seven games.

Nine minutes after scoring, Messi found himself alone with the keeper, but his shot toward the far post sailed wide.

Cincinnati's best scoring chance came in the first half when Ender Echenique sent a header across the box to Evander, who shot over the bar.

Miami had seven shots on goal to Cincinnati's four.

Miami made it a two-goal lead 10 minutes into the second half when Silvetti beat Cincinnati keeper Roman Celentano with a shot from the left side of the box.

In the 62nd minute, Messi threaded a pass through the defense to Allende, who made it 3-0. Allende scored again in the 74th minute.

Cincinnati beat Miami 3-0 at home on July 16, and played to a scoreless draw at Fort Lauderdale on July 26. Messi was in the lineup for the first meeting, but not the second.

The 2026 MLS regular season starts Feb. 21 and runs through Nov. 7. It'll be the last season in the February-to-November model, with a shortened season planned for 2027 and then the new summer-to-spring calendar for the 2027-28 campaign to closer align with other global leagues.

Inter Miami will open the season with five consecutive road matches, which presumably will allow for the finishing touches to be made to Miami Freedom Park — the team's still-under-construction home near Miami International Airport. It's not clear yet if there will be preseason or other matches at the stadium before the April 4 date.

The home opener for Inter Miami will be against Austin FC, a 7:30 p.m. start inside the new 25,000-seat stadium. Messi signed a three-year extension in recent weeks to remain with the team into 2028 and getting that deal done cemented that he — as the team long hoped — would be there for the start of their run at the new facility.

Miami Freedom Park's opening will start a planned run of three new MLS stadiums in a three-season span, with New York City FC's Etihad Park set to open in 2027 and a new downtown stadium for Chicago Fire FC slated to open in 2028.

World Cup break

There will be a nearly two-month break for the FIFA World Cup, with no matches scheduled between May 25 and July 16.

Among the final pre-break matches: a doubleheader on FOX on May 24 with Inter Miami facing Philadelphia, followed by LAFC against Seattle.

The MLS season will resume shortly before the end of the World Cup; MLS has some rivalry games scheduled for July 16 and 17, prior to the third-place match on July 18 and the World Cup final on July 19.

TV deal

All 510 MLS regular season matches next season will be available on Apple TV in more than 100 countries and regions, with no blackouts and — in a change — no additional subscription required. Some MLS matches will also be available on FOX networks in the U.S., along with TSN and RDS in Canada.

MLS is back Feb. 21-22

There will be 15 matches on the season's opening weekend, Feb. 21 and 22. Among them: St. Louis City SC playing host to Charlotte FC on Feb. 21, before FC Cincinnati takes on Atlanta United in the return of coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino.

Also that night: Messi and Inter Miami open the season against LAFC at the iconic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Among the Feb. 22 slate: LA Galaxy hosting New York City FC for Sunday Night Soccer on Apple TV, followed by the Seattle Sounders FC and Colorado Rapids playing on FS1.

All-Star Game

The MLS All-Star Game will be in Charlotte on July 29, one day after the skills challenge. The opponent for the MLS All-Star Game has yet to be announced.

No break in playoffs

The league will observe FIFA's November window before opening the playoffs, which will allow for the postseason to run without interruption starting Nov. 18.

The league has not revealed the full postseason schedule.

Messi scored a pair of first-half goals and added two assists, leading the way as third-seeded Inter Miami ousted sixth-seeded Nashville SC 4-0 on Saturday night in the decisive Game 3 of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series.

Tadeo Allende scored a pair of goals about three minutes apart — both set up by Messi — in the second half to blow the game open for Inter Miami, which outscored Nashville 8-3 in the series. Messi had a hand in all eight of those goals, scoring five and assisting on the other three.

Inter Miami will go to FC Cincinnati for an East semifinal match — everything now is single-elimination, unlike Round 1's best-of-three format — on Nov. 22 or Nov. 23. Cincinnati went 1-0-1 against Inter Miami this season, winning 3-0 at home on July 16 and playing to a scoreless draw at Fort Lauderdale on July 26. Messi was in the lineup for the first meeting, but not the second.

"We know Cincinnati will be a tough test," Inter Miami's Jordi Alba — who is retiring when this playoff run ends — said after his 100th appearance with the club.

Messi is the heavy favorite to win his second straight MLS MVP award, and if that happens, he would be the first back-to-back winner in league history. He also won the Golden Boot as MLS' leading scorer this season, just finalized a new three-year deal to remain with the club through 2028 and seems to be playing his best soccer at the perfect time for Inter Miami.

This is the first time Inter Miami has gotten this far in the MLS playoffs. South Florida's MLS predecessor — the long-defunct Miami Fusion — got as far as the league's semifinals in its final season in 2001, but this is new territory for Inter Miami.

A year ago, in Messi's first full season with the club, it lost a Game 3 of Round 1 at home as the Supporters Shield winners and were ousted by Atlanta.

Not this time. Messi saw to that.

With four Nashville defenders around him, Messi scored from the top of the 18-yard box in the 10th minute for a 1-0 lead. And the second goal was from nearly the same spot, albeit much easier.

Mateo Silvetti controlled a long pass and got past a Nashville defender, attracting the attention of goalkeeper Joe Willis. Silvetti pushed the ball toward Messi, who had nothing but empty net to shoot at in the 39th minute for a 2-0 edge.

"I would say the team played a near-perfect game, through the defense, midfield and attack," Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said.

Inter Miami is 19-2-3 this season in MLS play when it scores at least two goals, but Nashville made the Herons earn this one.

It appeared, briefly anyway, that Nashville cut the lead in half in the opening minute of the second half, but Sam Surridge's would-have-been goal was whistled dead because one of his feet got tangled with Inter Miami's Maxi Falcon on the play and a foul got called.

The Inter Miami-Cincinnati winner will play either top-seeded Philadelphia Union or fifth-seeded NYCFC in the East final. The MLS Cup final is scheduled for Dec. 6, and Philadelphia, Cincinnati or Inter Miami would all play host that match if it got to the title game.

The Inter Miami star told a business conference on Wednesday that there will be a time to reflect on what he's done in his soccer life. But those days, he said, won't happen until he retires, and given that he has a contract to continue playing through 2028 that may not be anytime soon.

"It's not something I've thought about or worried about," Messi said in Spanish when asked about his legacy. "When I retire, as the years go by, obviously I'll value everything I did in my career and what I achieved professionally much more. But today is the time to keep enjoying myself and to keep playing."

Messi, the World Cup champion for Argentina and eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, was the final speaker on the first day of the America Business Summit — following the likes of President Donald Trump, Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

He was interviewed by Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, who presented Messi with a ceremonial key to the city when their talk was complete. Messi — speaking in an arena mostly filled by business executives — got several loud ovations, with many people grabbing photos and video on their phones while he spoke.

"It is spectacular, my first time living in this incredible city," Messi said. "The affection of all the people from the first day, it was impressive and today is yet another example of the welcome. ... I'm very grateful."

Suarez asked Messi about what it was like to lead Argentina to the World Cup title in 2022. The U.S., Canada and Mexico will play host to the World Cup next summer, when Argentina will aim to defend its title.

"As a player, winning the World Cup, I think it's the best," Messi said. "After the World Cup, you can't ask for anything more."

Messi's life after soccer is starting to come into focus

Messi joined Inter Miami midway through 2023, won the Major League Soccer MVP award last year and is a heavy favorite to become the league's first back-to-back MVP this season. He and Inter Miami face a win-or-else Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against Nashville SC on Saturday night at the team's home park in Fort Lauderdale.

At 38, Messi is still elite. He scored a league-best 29 goals in this year's MLS regular season, five more than LAFC's Denis Bouanga and Nashville's Sam Surridge. He also had 19 assists, and his 48 total goal contributions was one shy of matching the MLS record of 49 set by Carlos Vela in 2019.

But he also acknowledged to the conference on Wednesday that his mind is, slowly, beginning to shift to life after soccer and his varied business interests.

"Unfortunately, at some point, it ends," Messi said. "I want to continue learning. ... For me, something else is coming, another world, and little by little I am getting involved."

Messi spoke on the same day that Inter Miami announced that its new stadium near Miami International Airport is reaching a major construction milestone — with the final beams for the stadium canopy being raised.

Messi signed a three-year extension with Inter Miami last month.

"I'm happy in this place, so I'm very happy to continue," he said. "I'm really anxious, really looking forward to it being finished, to be able to play here."

Suárez has been suspended for Saturday's series-deciding playoff game against Nashville SC, Major League Soccer announced Wednesday, for his actions in Game 2 of the series — specifically, kicking Nashville's Andy Nájar — this past weekend.

Suárez was also fined an undisclosed amount, MLS said. Inter Miami must win on Saturday in Game 3 of the series with Nashville, or its season will end.

MLS' disciplinary committee said Suárez's "violent conduct" in the 71st minute of the match on Nov. 1 merited the suspension, even though no foul was called against him on the play. By MLS rules, the committee can unanimously agree to issue a suspension even if no foul was called in real time.

Suárez reached out with his right leg and struck Nájar, with neither one anywhere near the ball.

Suarez's suspensions

MLS suspended Suárez earlier this season for three league matches after he was caught spitting at someone during a melee following Inter Miami's loss to the Seattle Sounders in the Leagues Cup final on Aug. 31. Leagues Cup also suspended Suárez for six future matches in its tournament; MLS took action even though the acts that marred the finish of that game were not in a league match.

Suárez has served suspensions on three other occasions during his career for biting opponents.

Additionally, MLS said Wednesday that Inter Miami defender Ian Fray has been fined for "violating the league's policy regarding simulation/embellishment" during the Nashville match last weekend. The amount of the fine was not disclosed.

Inter Miami won Game 1 of the series, then dropped Game 2 at Nashville. Inter Miami failed to get out of the first round last season, dropping a Game 3 at home to Atlanta.

Suarez's uncertain future with Miami

Messi played with Suárez — whose status for 2026 and beyond isn't certain — as well as Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba for years with Barcelona. Suárez followed Busquets and Alba to Inter Miami after Messi stunned many in the soccer world by choosing to sign with Inter Miami midway through 2023.

Messi has extended his contract through 2028. Busquets and Alba are retiring when this Inter Miami season ends.

The teams will meet in Fort Lauderdale on Nov. 8 for a decisive Game 3.

It was Nashville's first playoff win since the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs, when it defeated Orlando 2-1 at home in first round. Saturday's victory was also Nashville's first over Miami since May 17, 2023, in a 2-1 result.

Sam Surridge opened the scoring in the ninth minute, finding the back of the net on a penalty shot with Inter Miami goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo diving the opposite way of the shot.

Nashville struck again before the half as Josh Bauer connected with Hany Mukhtar's corner kick in the 45th minute to bump the lead to 2-0.

Inter Miami made things interesting late as Messi scored his sixth goal in three games against Nashville in the 90th minute.

Miami had a 10-9 shot advantage but Nashville had five shots on net to Miami's three.

The winner of the three-game series will face No. 2 Cincinnati or No. 7 Columbus Crew in the conference semifinals. Cincinnati leads that series, 1-0.

Messi opened the scoring with a diving header in the first half, then capped the scoring in the 96th minute as Inter Miami opened the Major League Soccer playoffs with a 3-1 win over Nashville SC in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference best-of-three first-round series on Friday night.

Messi and Ian Fray had the assists on Tadeo Allende's second-half tally for Inter Miami, which now gets two chances to advance out of the first round for the first time in Messi's 2 1/2-year tenure with the team. Game 2 is at Nashville on Nov. 1. Game 3, if necessary, would in Fort Lauderdale on Nov. 8.

Hany Mukhtar got Nashville's goal off a free kick in the 101st minute. It was the final play of the match.

The win capped a big couple of days for Inter Miami, which announced Messi's three-year contract extension on Thursday.

"I don't think we ever could have imagined that Leo would have been able to deliver for this club, for this city and for this league the way he has," said MLS Commissioner Don Garber, who presented Messi with the Golden Boot — the trophy presented to the league's top goal scorer — in a pregame ceremony.

"You know, he has reset the trajectory for Major League Soccer and we were already doing pretty well," Garber added. "And I think having three more years is just going to be another gift. Hopefully it's the gift that keeps on giving."

Messi ducked behind a line of defenders for the header that opened the scoring in the 19th minute. Allende scored off a header as well in the 62nd minute, with Messi starting that play with a pass to Fray on the right wing. Fray chipped the ball into the middle of the box and Allende made the rest look easy.

The capper came in stoppage time, when the ball deflected to an unmarked Messi in the goal mouth. He tapped it home for a 3-0 lead.

Messi was the league's MVP last season and is the overwhelming choice to win the award again this year, which would make him only the second two-time winner in league history and the first to win it in back-to-back years. Preki won the MVP award in 1997 and 2003.

Messi scored 29 goals in the regular season, five more than LAFC's Denis Bouanga and Nashville's Sam Surridge. He also had 19 assists, and his 48 total goal contributions was one shy of matching the MLS record of 49 set by Carlos Vela in 2019.

"You have to lean into this unique and special historic moment that I know I'll look back on and say, 'Boy, I can't believe I was running a league that had the best player in the history of the game playing in it,'" Garber said. "Sometimes I find when things are happening ... you're just moving on to the next thing. I think we all need to take a step back and appreciate Leo Messi is playing in Major League Soccer."

The new contract means Messi could remain with Inter Miami into his early 40s. He is still the biggest name in soccer; ticket revenue for MLS set a record this year, Inter Miami's value has doubled by some estimates to about $1.2 billion since he arrived and he has led the league in jersey sales annually since his arrival midway through 2023.

"I think he's the unicorn of unicorns," Garber said. "You know, there's something about the way he's wired. He's thinking about the game like nobody else ever has. His intensity and desire to win is what makes him the greatest of all time. There are a lot of really competitive players, but he has this special sauce, this dynamic that has him so focused on doing what he needs to do to win games."

Garber also lauded Inter Miami for how it made the announcement of Messi's signing. The team revealed it on social media with a video of Messi signing his contract, then the camera pulls out to show that he's actually sitting where the field will be inside the team's new stadium near Miami International Airport. The stadium is scheduled to open next year.

"It just shows how classy and smart they are," Garber said.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

The deal was announced Thursday, one day before Inter Miami's playoff opener against Nashville. Messi's team — the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference — will play host to Game 1 of that best-of-three series on Friday night.

The team announced the move in a social media post, one showing Messi signing the contract inside the new stadium that remains under construction. "HE'S HOME," the team said in the post.

"It makes me really happy to stay here and to continue with this project that, besides being a dream, has become a beautiful reality - playing in this stadium, at Miami Freedom Park," Messi said. "Since I arrived in Miami, I've been very happy, so I'm truly glad to keep going here."

Inter Miami said it was a three-year deal through 2028. The notion of Messi playing two or three more seasons certainly would serve as a boost to ticket sales at the stadium the team has been building near Miami International Airport. The team has been selling ticket packages and taking deposits on seats in the new park for more than a year, all with the assumption that Messi would remain part of the franchise.

Messi's decision to stay in Miami is big for both the club and for MLS. He was the league's MVP last season and is the overwhelming choice to win the award again this year, which would make him only the second two-time winner in league history and the first to win it in back-to-back years. Preki won the MVP award in 1997 and 2003.

"To enjoy him, watching him enjoy doing the things he is doing, he's very, very competitive and he tries to translate that to the team," Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said Thursday. "The best way to help him is trying to do the right things ... he has to be comfortable on the pitch. He's comfortable when things are working in the right way.

"With him, when we do things the right way, we'll have many chances to have success."

Messi won MLS' Golden Boot this season after scoring 29 goals, five more than LAFC's Denis Bouanga and Nashville's Sam Surridge. He also had 19 assists, and his 48 total goal contributions was one shy of matching the MLS record of 49 set by Carlos Vela in 2019.

This season, Messi had multiple goals in five consecutive games — making him the first MLS player to achieve such a feat — and had 10 multigoal games, another league record. The previous mark was eight such games.

Messi is 38, which makes this contract likely his last as a professional player. He has spent well over half his life playing at the pro level, making his debut with Barcelona as a 17-year-old in 2004.

It is not clear how long Messi, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and generally considered the sport's biggest star, plans to keep playing. He led Argentina to the World Cup title in 2022; his country will aim to defend that trophy when the tournament is played next June and July in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

His Inter Miami team will look different in 2026, for certain. Messi agreed to join the club in July 2023 on what was a 2 1/2-year contract, and it wound up becoming a reunion of longtime Barcelona teammates when he was eventually joined by Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez.

Busquets and Alba are both retiring after this season; Alba made the decision to step away just months after agreeing to a three-year contract. Suarez's future is unclear, and it's believed retirement could be an option for him as well.

But Messi will play on, into 2026 anyway. He and the team were closing in on the finish of this drawn-out contract negotiation last month, and it wasn't clear why it took several more weeks to get Messi to finally sign the deal.

His first contract with Inter Miami was worth an estimated $150 million at the time. It immediately began paying off, with Inter Miami winning its first trophy — the 2023 Leagues Cup — shortly after he arrived.

Last season, when he won the MLS MVP award for the first time, he did so while missing 15 of Inter Miami's 34 regular-season matches because of injuries or commitments to Argentina's national team. Even with those absences, Inter Miami won its first Supporters' Shield by having MLS' best regular-season record — then got upset in the first round of the playoffs.

The club has seen a massive rise in global popularity with Messi on the roster. His pink No. 10 jersey has been MLS' highest seller since he joined the league, and he has added to his massive off-field business empire since coming to the U.S. — even starring in a Super Bowl ad last year.

The last time Messi scored a hat trick was Oct. 19, 2024, in I nter Miami's 6-2 win over the New England Revolution. It was the 19th scored hat trick of the 2025 MLS season.

He scored his first of the game from the top of the box in the 35th minute to give Inter Miami a 1-0 lead.

Messi was awarded a penalty kick in the 63rd minute and scored to tie the game 2-2.

He completed the hat trick in the 81st minute, scoring from the center of the box on a left-footed shot and extending Inter Miami's lead to 4-2.

Messi now leads the MLS with 29 goals, giving him an edge as a finalist for the Golden Boot as league MVP. He is five goals ahead of fellow Golden Boot finalist Denis Bouanga of Los Angeles FC'.

Messi found the net in the 39th minute when he took a pass from Baltasar Rodríguez and scored to put Inter Miami (18-7-8) up 1-0 at halftime.

Jordi Alba, who has announced he will retire at the end of the season, made it 2-0 seven minutes into the second half with his sixth goal. The 36-year-old defender has 11 goals and 27 assists in 64 appearances — all with Miami. The club honored Alba with a ceremony following his final regular-season home match.

Messi notched his 18th assist on Alba's goal, tying him with Anders Dreyer of San Diego FC for the league lead.

Luis Suárez made it 3-0 in the 61st minute, scoring unassisted for his 10th goal to go with 10 assists.

Messi capped the scoring in the 81st minute with an assist from Alba — his 13th.

It was the league-leading 26th goal of the season for Messi, who leads 2023 Golden Boot winner Denis Bouanga of Los Angeles FC by two goals and Nashville SC's Sam Surridge by three with one match left in the regular season.

Messi's 44 goal contributions are the second most in a single season in league history. Only LAFC's Carlos Vela had more with 49 in 2019.

Rocco Ríos Novo finished with three saves in his sixth start of the season for Inter Miami. It was the third clean sheet for the 23-year-old.

Jayden Hibbert, 21, saved six shots for Atlanta United (5-16-12) in his eighth career start. Hibbert had three of his four first-half saves — two on shots by Messi — over a 10-minute span to keep it scoreless through the first 21 minutes.

Inter Miami and FC Cincinnati both have 62 points in the battle for second place in the Eastern Conference.

Inter Miami closes out the regular season on Saturday with a Decision Day match at Nashville SC, while Atlanta United will finish against visiting D.C. United with last place in the East on the line.

And then, he simply changed his mind.

Alba spoke in advance of an Inter Miami training session on Friday about his decision to retire, one that was announced earlier this week but was made a few weeks earlier. And one he stands by now.

"I think it's the best," Alba said in his native Spanish at the team's training base in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. "Physically, I still feel good, but ... I think it's the most honest, the fairest thing to do. And it's also a decision that I make alone and I think it's the right decision."

Alba will finish this season with Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer playoffs, then wrap up a career that saw him play for Spain in three different World Cups — 2014, 2018 and 2022 — plus help Barcelona win six Spanish league titles, five Copa del Rey trophies and the Champions League in 2015.

"The best thing to do is to step aside," Alba said. "I think it's something to be proud of the career I've had."

Inter Miami will pay tribute to Alba on Saturday night, after the team's match against Atlanta United. It'll be the second major retirement ceremony in the span of a couple weeks for the club; Sergio Busquets, another longtime Messi teammate, is also retiring when this season ends.

Alba has made 95 appearances across all competitions for Inter Miami, with 14 goals and 38 assists.

Alba, Busquets and Luis Suarez — whose status for 2026 and beyond isn't certain — were all together in Barcelona with Messi, and all signed up relatively quickly to come to MLS when Messi stunned many in the soccer world by choosing to sign with Inter Miami midway through 2023. Messi's contract is also up after this season, though he and the team have been working on a new deal for months.

"Thanks to you, Jordi. I am going to miss you a lot. After many things together, it's going to feel strange to look to my left and not see you there," Messi wrote in a message to Alba on Instagram earlier this week.

Messi and Alba have made little secret of how they have a connection on the field that cannot be easily explained, a sixth sense of sorts of always knowing where the other is and where they are going.

"That back pass that we have done many times ... the opponents, well, they already knew it (was coming), but maybe the timing that we had or that we have today is still working," Alba said. "I'm very happy to have been able to play with the best in the history of the game. I also give him a lot of assists, but he has also given me practically all the goals I have scored. I'm proud to have played with him for so many years."

Messi has 24 goals and 17 assist and his 41 goal contributions this season are the second most in MLS history. Carlos Vela had 49 (34 goals, 15 assists) for Los Angeles FC in 2019.

Miami (17-7-8) is third in the Eastern Conference with 59 points, three behind second-place Cincinnati and three ahead of Charlotte and New York City. Philadelphia, the points leader in all of MLS, has 66 points.

Allende ran onto a no-look pass played ahead by Messi and scored from the right corner of the 6-yard box with a low shot that slipped inside the back post to open the scoring in the 32nd minute.

Alba gave Miami a 2-0 lead in first-half stoppage time. Messi stole a misplayed first-touch pass by the goalkeeper at the corner of the area, quickly cut to evade a defender near the penalty spot and then slipped a pass to Alba for the finish from point-blank range.

Dor Turgeman made his first career start in MLS and scored for New England in the 59th minute, but moments later, Allende held off a defender and put away a long arcing ball-ahead played by Messi to make it 3-1 in the 60th and Alba's second goal capped the scoring in the 63rd.

The 21-year-old Turgeman made his debut when he subbed on in the 56th minute of the Revolution's 2-0 win over Atlanta last Saturday.

Miami beat the Revolution 2-1 on July 9.

With the victory, Chicago (15-6-11) secured its first playoff berth since 2017 and improved to eighth in the Eastern Conference MLS standings.

Lionel Messi was held scoreless for the second straight game as Inter Miami, which has already clinched a playoff spot, slipped to 16-8-7. The loss hurt Inter Miami's hopes of winning the Supporters' Shield. The Philadelphia Union can secure the regular-season title with a win over New York City FC.

"This defeat is exclusively my responsibility. It wasn't the names (the players), it was the strategy I chose," Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano said after the game.

The Fire seized the lead early as Dje D'Avilla opened the scoring with a header in the 11th minute and Jonathan Dean scored on a breakaway in the 31st.

Miami cut the deficit to 2-1 when Tomás Avilés scored at the 39-minute mark, but Chicago's Romingue Kouamé restored the two-goal advantage just before halftime.

Suárez pulled Inter Miami within one with a goal in the 57th minute and the Uruguayan tied the game 3-all when he scored off an assist from Jordi Alba in the 74th.

Justin Reynolds' tap in at the back post in the 80th minute put Chicago back in front 4-3, and Brian Gutierrez added an insurance goal on a hard shot from just outside the box in the 83rd.

The game was originally scheduled for August 30, but was postponed when Inter made the Leagues Cup Final, where they lost to Seattle 3-0.

Miami made five changes to the lineup used in a 1-1 tie with Toronto on Saturday, including replacing all defenders, except Jordi Alba. Inter Miami had its three-game MLS winning streak halted with the tie against Toronto.

Toronto (5-13-13) has conceded just six goals during its seven consecutive draws. Toronto is winless in its last nine games at 0-2-7, with its last victory coming on July 16.

Miami (16-6-8), which clinched a playoff spot midweek, came into the game 28 points above Toronto in the Eastern Conference.

Tadeo Allende scored in first-half stoppage time for Miami, which had 10 goals in its three previous wins. Jordi Alba's cross went just over the head of Kosi Thompson and Allende headed it home for his ninth goal.

Mihailovic pulled Toronto even. Richie Laryea got to a Jonathan Osorio pass before it went out of bounds and sent the ball back across the goal for an unmarked Mihailovic to tap in his 10th goal of the season.

Toronto goalkeeper Sean Johnson made a nice save to deny Lionel Messi's right-footed shot in the 29th. Johnson denied Messi again in the 44th. There were two more great saves in the second half, including Messi's free kick from the edge of the box.

Saturday's game drew an announced crowd of 28,855 for the first sellout of the season for Toronto.

Messi scored the go-ahead goal in the 66th minute before adding some insurance in the 85th. He has 22 goals this season, one more than Nashville SC's Sam Surridge in the race for the Golden Boot Award.

Defender Jordi Alba collected his 10th assist on Messi's first goal and Sergio Busquets notched his seventh for the brace.

First-year midfielder Tadeo Allende scored his eighth goal — with an assist from Messi — in the 35th minute and Inter Miami took a 1-0 lead into halftime. It was Messi's 12th assist this season — tied for fourth most in the league.

DC United pulled even in the 53rd minute when Christian Benteke took a pass from Brandon Servania and scored. It was the ninth goal for the 2024 Golden Boot winner and the 47th of his career. It was the third assist for Servania, matching his career high.

DC United got within 3-2 seven minutes into stoppage time on Jacob Murrell's second goal this season. Benteke and Rida Zouhir both picked up their second assist.

Óscar Ustari finished with four saves for Inter Miami (15-6-7) in his 22nd start.

Luis Barraza saved four shots for DC United (5-16-10).

Inter Miami, fifth in the Eastern Conference, travels to play fourth-place New York City FC at Citi Field on Wednesday, trailing by one point with two matches in hand.

DC United will host the Philadelphia Union on Saturday.