Messi endures rare penalty setback as Nashville punish Inter Miami

Inter Miami suffered a third consecutive defeat as Major League Soccer leaders Nashville SC claimed a 4-1 victory on Saturday, with Lionel Messi missing a penalty for the third successive time.

Messi had the chance to bring Inter Miami level in the 23rd minute after Andy Najar had put Nashville ahead in the 17th minute at Geodis Park. However, Nashville goalkeeper Bryan Schwake dived low to his right to keep out the Argentina captain’s spot-kick.

Sergio Reguilon followed up by putting the rebound into the net, but the goal was disallowed after a video assistant referee review found that players had entered the penalty area before the penalty was taken.

According to ESPN statistics, it was the first time since 2014 that Messi had failed to convert three consecutive penalties.

The 38-year-old had already missed two attempts for Argentina during this summer’s World Cup. The first came against Austria in the group stage, while the second was against Egypt in the last 16.

Saturday’s miss was also Messi’s first failed penalty in MLS since 13 September 2025.

Despite falling behind, Inter Miami managed to draw level before half-time. Messi supplied the assist for Telasco Segovia, who produced an excellent individual move before finishing during stoppage time at the end of the first half.

Nashville restored their authority after the interval. Former MLS Most Valuable Player Hany Mukhtar scored twice, with Sam Surridge adding a cleverly taken goal with his heel between Mukhtar’s efforts.

Messi became increasingly frustrated and was booked after making a strong protest to the referee, claiming he had been fouled during the build-up to Surridge’s goal.

His difficult night continued in stoppage time. Messi struck both posts with one attack and was denied a goal shortly afterwards when his finish was ruled out for offside.

Nashville then completed the scoring after an error by Inter Miami goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo. The goalkeeper slipped and became stranded outside his penalty area, allowing a long ball from Schwake to reach Mukhtar, who calmly rolled the ball into an empty net.

Inter Miami had arrived in Tennessee unbeaten in their previous six MLS matches. Victory would have taken the reigning Leagues Cup holders above Nashville into first place in both the Eastern Conference and the overall Supporters’ Shield standings.

Instead, Nashville extended their advantage to five points, with 15 matches remaining in the regular season.

Inter Miami had also lost their previous two matches in the Leagues Cup, the competition involving MLS and Liga MX clubs, and were eliminated in the group stage before the knockout rounds. Messi and striker Luis Suarez were not in the starting line-up for either of those defeats.

Messi returned to the starting XI on Saturday for the first time since the death of his father, Jorge, a week earlier. He had missed the defeat by Monterrey before coming on as a substitute in Wednesday’s loss to Leon.

Suarez was absent for the whole of the Leagues Cup because he was suspended following incidents during last year’s final.

Inter Miami will attempt to end their losing run when they visit Philadelphia Union next Wednesday.