Messi scores 20th MLS goal as Inter Miami draw 2-2 with San Diego FC
Synopsis
Messi's 24th-minute free-kick curler was the headline act in a 2-2 MLS draw at Nu Stadium — but the number that matters is 20. By scoring his 20th goal of the season, Messi became only the second player in MLS history to hit that mark in three straight seasons, continuing to pace the entire league in both goals and assists at age 38.
Key Takeaways
Inter Miami CF drew 2-2 with San Diego FC at Nu Stadium on 21 September 2026 .
Lionel Messi scored his 20th goal of the season — a free-kick curler in the 24th minute — to become only the second player in MLS history to score 20+ goals in three consecutive seasons .
Luis Suárez put Inter Miami ahead in the 74th minute with his 13th goal of the regular season; Rodrigo De Paul provided his 12th assist .
Messi leads the 2026 MLS Golden Boot race with 20 goals , 13 assists , and 33 goal contributions — all league-best figures.
San Diego FC equalised in the 82nd minute ; goalkeeper St.
Clair denied Kieran Sargeant in the 90+6th minute to keep it level.
Inter Miami's next fixture is away at the Columbus Crew on 28 September .
Lionel Messi reached the 20-goal mark for the 2026 MLS season as Inter Miami CF were held to a 2-2 draw at home by San Diego FC in regular season action at Nu Stadium on 21 September. Goals from captain Messi and striker Luis Suárez earned the hosts a point, but a late San Diego equaliser denied them the victory they had worked hard for.
How the Goals Fell
San Diego drew first blood in the 12th minute through Anders Dreyer, putting the visitors ahead early. Messi levelled the contest in the 24th minute with a trademark free-kick curler from the right that found the top-left corner — a goal that pushed his season tally to 20.
The 1-1 scoreline persisted through the break, with Inter Miami applying sustained pressure in the second half. Their persistence paid off in the 74th minute when Rodrigo De Paul threaded a precise pass into space for Suárez on the right edge of the box, and the Uruguayan forward finished with a clinical first-time right-footed shot. It was Suárez's 13th goal of the regular season, while the assist was De Paul's 12th.
San Diego pulled level again in the 82nd minute, and Inter Miami goalkeeper St. Clair was forced into a crucial intervention in stoppage time, denying Kieran Sargeant in the 90+6th minute to preserve the point.
Messi's Historic Milestone
The free-kick goal was far more than a routine equaliser. With his 20th goal of the season, Messi became only the second player in MLS history to score 20 or more goals in three consecutive seasons, joining LAFC's Denis Bouanga — who achieved the feat from 2023 to 2025 — in that exclusive company.
The Argentine captain continues to lead the race for the 2026 MLS Golden Boot by a comfortable margin. He paces the entire league in both goals (20) and assists (13), giving him a league-best 33 goal contributions this regular season. This level of individual output from a player who turns 39 this year remains one of the defining storylines of the MLS campaign.
Inter Miami's Standings Picture
The draw continues a mixed run for Inter Miami, who have shown attacking brilliance but at times struggled to convert dominance into three points. With Messi, Suárez, and De Paul all operating in vintage form — the trio combining for 45 goal contributions in the regular season — the drop of two points at home will sting the coaching staff.
Notably, San Diego FC have proven to be a resilient opponent, twice coming from behind or holding firm against one of the league's most potent attacks.
What Comes Next
Inter Miami will next travel to Columbus, Ohio, where they face the Columbus Crew at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field on 28 September. The fixture will be another key test of the side's title credentials as the regular season enters its closing stages.
Point of View
But the story here is entirely Messi's. Scoring 20 goals in three straight MLS seasons — in a league he entered as a marquee signing many assumed would coast — is a statistical rebuke to anyone who questioned whether he would truly compete. The concern for Inter Miami is structural: with Messi, Suárez, and De Paul all approaching or past their mid-thirties, the window for a title run is finite, and dropping points at home to a mid-table side will not go unnoticed. The Golden Boot is nearly Messi's to lose; the playoff picture remains the bigger open question.
NationPress
21 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of Inter Miami vs San Diego FC on 21 September 2026?
Inter Miami CF and San Diego FC drew 2-2 in MLS regular season action at Nu Stadium. Messi and Suárez scored for the hosts, while Anders Dreyer opened the scoring and San Diego equalised in the 82nd minute.
How many MLS goals does Messi have in the 2026 season?
Messi has scored 20 goals in the 2026 MLS regular season, leading the league. He also has a league-best 13 assists for 33 goal contributions overall, making him the frontrunner for the Golden Boot.
What historic MLS record did Messi set against San Diego FC?
By scoring his 20th goal of the season, Messi became only the second player in MLS history to net 20 or more goals in three consecutive seasons . He joined LAFC's Denis Bouanga, who achieved the feat from 2023 to 2025.
Who else scored and assisted for Inter Miami in the 2-2 draw?
Luis Suárez scored Inter Miami's second goal in the 74th minute — his 13th of the regular season. Rodrigo De Paul provided the assist, his 12th of the campaign.
When is Inter Miami's next MLS fixture?
Inter Miami travel to Columbus, Ohio to face the Columbus Crew at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field on 28 September 2026 .
