Messi's goal, assist seal Inter Miami's 2-1 win and Concacaf Champions Cup spot
Synopsis
Messi turned another MLS regular-season game into a showcase of his genius — weaving past three defenders before sealing a comeback win in the 83rd minute. With 26 goals and 16 assists, he is on course for a third straight MLS MVP and a second consecutive Golden Boot, while Inter Miami punch their ticket to the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Key Takeaways
Inter Miami beat New England Revolution 2-1 in Foxborough on 2 November .
Lionel Messi scored the winner in the 83rd minute and provided the assist for the equaliser — his 16th league assist of the season.
Berterame netted the equaliser with a header in the 69th minute — his 10th regular-season goal .
The result clinches Inter Miami's spot in the Concacaf Champions Cup and consolidates their Eastern Conference No.
Messi now has 26 goals and 16 assists , putting him in contention for a historic third straight MLS MVP and second consecutive Golden Boot .
Lionel Messi delivered a late winner and a crucial assist as Inter Miami came from behind to defeat the New England Revolution 2-1 in Foxborough on 2 November, clinching a berth in next year's Concacaf Champions Cup. The road victory also pushed Miami into the driver's seat for the Eastern Conference's No. 2 seed ahead of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
How the Game Unfolded
An even first half ended goalless, with Miami's best opportunity coming in the 28th minute when Berterame fired a left-footed shot from the left edge of the box, only to be denied by New England goalkeeper Matt Turner. The hosts broke the deadlock early in the second period, with Daniel Gazdag netting in the 53rd minute to give the Revolution a 1-0 lead.
Messi and Berterame Combine to Equalise
Inter Miami levelled in the 69th minute through a slick team move. Segovia delivered a lobbed pass into the area, and Messi headed the ball back into the path of Berterame, who thundered home a header from the centre of the box. The strike was Berterame's 10th regular-season goal of the campaign, while the header counted as Messi's 16th league assist of the season.
Messi Seals It in the 83rd Minute
The Argentine superstar then delivered the decisive blow in the 83rd minute. Luis Suarez played Messi in centrally outside the box, and the forward weaved past three defenders before combining with Segovia to penetrate the box and slot the ball into the bottom-right corner with a composed, grounded finish. The goal was Messi's 26th of the regular season, stretching his lead in the race for the 2026 MLS Golden Boot. Segovia's assist was his 12th of the campaign.
What It Means for Inter Miami
The three points on the road secured Inter Miami's place in the Concacaf Champions Cup and strengthened their push for a top seed in the Eastern Conference. With 26 goals and 16 assists on the season, Messi is also in prime position to claim an unprecedented third consecutive MLS MVP award, having previously won the Golden Boot in consecutive seasons. This is the kind of late-game heroics that has defined Miami's 2026 campaign — and underscored why the club built their project around the 38-year-old Argentine.
Point of View
Messi is doing things in MLS that defy both age and the league's historical billing as a retirement destination. Twenty-six goals and 16 assists in a single regular season would be elite output at any age, in any league. The real story here is not just the result — it is what the result signals about MLS's trajectory: a competition that once exported talent to Europe is now the stage on which the greatest player of his generation is choosing to write his final chapter. Whether that raises the league's global standing or merely inflates its celebrity quotient is a debate that will outlast Miami's playoff run.
NationPress
2 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Inter Miami qualify for the Concacaf Champions Cup?
Inter Miami secured their Concacaf Champions Cup berth by defeating the New England Revolution 2-1 on 2 November in Foxborough. The win provided the necessary points to clinch their spot in the competition ahead of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
What did Lionel Messi do in the match against New England Revolution?
Messi provided the assist for Inter Miami's equaliser in the 69th minute and then scored the match-winning goal in the 83rd minute, guiding his side to a 2-1 comeback victory. He finished the game with 26 goals and 16 assists for the regular season.
Who scored for Inter Miami against New England Revolution?
Berterame scored the equaliser in the 69th minute with a header, assisted by Messi, while Messi himself netted the winner in the 83rd minute, combining with Suarez and Segovia in a flowing passing move.
What is Messi's tally for the 2026 MLS season?
Messi has 26 goals and 16 assists in the 2026 MLS regular season. This puts him in the lead for the Golden Boot and in contention for a third consecutive MLS MVP award.
Where does Inter Miami sit in the Eastern Conference standings?
The win moved Inter Miami into the driver's seat for the Eastern Conference's No. 2 seed ahead of the MLS Cup Playoffs, giving the club a strong position heading into the post-season.
