Messi Leads Inter Miami to 4-0 Win Over FC Cincinnati, Advances to Eastern Conference Final

On a chilly Sunday night in Cincinnati, Lionel Andrés Messi didn’t just play soccer—he rewrote the script. With a goal and three assists, the 38-year-old legend carried Inter Miami CF to a dominant 4-0 victory over FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium on November 23, 2025, sealing their spot in the Eastern Conference final. The final whistle blew at 22:00 UTC, and for the first time since joining MLS in 2020, the Herons are headed to the conference title match. It wasn’t just a win. It was a statement. And it came on the back of a performance so precise, so ruthless, that even the most optimistic bettors were left stunned.

The Perfect Storm: How Inter Miami Broke Cincinnati

The game started with the kind of noise you only hear in a packed MLS playoff venue—TQL Stadium, a cauldron of orange and black, roaring as FC Cincinnati looked to use home advantage to disrupt Miami’s rhythm. But from the 18th minute, the script flipped. A counterattack, sparked by veteran Jordi Alba, found Mateo Silvetti on the left flank. His low cross met Messi’s leap, and the header—clean, powerful, impossible to stop—sent the away bench into a frenzy. The crowd fell silent. The momentum had shifted.

By the 57th minute, Silvetti doubled the lead, again set up by Messi’s vision. Then came Tadeo Allende. Two goals in 12 minutes, both from Messi’s trivela passes—the kind of curling, outside-of-the-foot crosses only a handful of players on earth can execute. Allende’s second, in the 74th, was a masterpiece: a diagonal ball that seemed to hang in the air before dropping perfectly onto the striker’s foot. No defenders moved. No goalkeeper reacted. It was surgical.

According to Sports Illustrated’s player ratings, Messi earned a 9.7—just shy of perfect. His 22nd assist of the season tied the MLS playoff record for goal contributions in a single postseason. He now has 38 goals and 22 assists in 40 matches across all competitions in 2025. Nine of those goals? In just seven playoff games.

Predictions Proven: The Betting Market Got It Right

Before kickoff, Sportshandle.com had flagged Inter Miami’s attack as the league’s most dangerous—81 regular-season goals, 42 of them from Messi alone. They also noted Cincinnati’s absence of center-back Matt Miazga, 29, whose defensive discipline was sorely missed. Footballpredictions.com had called for a 2-1 loss for Cincinnati, but even they underestimated the scale of the rout. Forebet.com’s 1-3 prediction? Close. But not close enough.

Over 2.5 total goals? Yes. Messi to score anytime? Yes. Both teams to score? No—Cincinnati didn’t even manage a shot on target after the 30th minute. The odds on Messi as the first goalscorer were -163. He delivered. And Evander da Silva Monteiro, the alternative assist pick, nearly added a fifth with a darting run in the 85th.

The Architects Behind the Machine

This wasn’t just Messi. It was a symphony conducted by Javier Mascherano, the 40-year-old former Argentina captain now guiding Inter Miami with a calm, tactical mind. He set up a 4-3-3 that absorbed Cincinnati’s early pressure, then unleashed lethal transitions. Behind Messi, Sergio Busquets, 37, dictated tempo with a single touch, while Alba—35 and still faster than half the league—provided width and urgency.

FC Cincinnati, meanwhile, looked disjointed. Forward E. Echenique missed a golden chance just before halftime, blazing a shot wide from six yards. Goalkeeper Roman Celentano, though sharp early, was left exposed by a defense that forgot how to mark. And without Miazga’s physical presence, Miami’s forwards had space to roam like predators.

What This Means for the Rest of the Playoffs

Inter Miami’s path to the MLS Cup now leads through the winner of the other semifinal—likely either New York City FC or Columbus Crew. But with Messi in this form, they’re favorites. No team in MLS has stopped them when he’s firing. And he’s not just scoring—he’s creating. His 22 assists this postseason are more than any player has ever recorded in a single playoff run.

This is more than a team on a roll. It’s a historic campaign. In their fifth MLS season, Inter Miami has gone from expansion afterthought to title contender in under three years. And it’s all tied to one man’s genius.

The Legacy Moment

The final whistle didn’t just end a game—it marked a milestone. Messi became the first player in MLS history to record a goal or assist in nine consecutive playoff appearances. His celebration after the first goal, arms wide, eyes locked on the sky, was more than joy. It was reverence. Teammates Silvetti and Allende rushed him, but he just smiled. He’s been here before. On world stages. In World Cups. But this? This was different. This was his league now.