Messi Scores 101st Miami Goal as San Diego Fight Back for 2-2 Draw

Lionel Messi reached another milestone on Sunday night, but the celebration was cut short as Inter Miami were held to a 2-2 draw by San Diego FC at Nu Stadium.

The Argentine curled home a superb free-kick in the 24th minute, taking his Inter Miami total to 101 goals across all competitions. It was also his 20th MLS goal of the season, keeping him at the top of the league's Golden Boot race. 

But Messi's latest strike was not enough for Miami to claim three points.

Dreyer Puts San Diego Ahead

San Diego made the brighter start and went in front after just 12 minutes.

Jeppe Tverskov spotted Anders Dreyer's run and played a perfectly weighted ball behind the Miami defence. Dreyer lifted his finish over Dayne St. Clair to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

Miami responded quickly. Messi stepped over a free-kick from the right side in the 24th minute and curled the ball through the crowded penalty area. Nobody got a touch, leaving goalkeeper CJ dos Santos stranded as the ball found the far side of the net. 

That goal also came only four days after Messi scored his 100th Inter Miami goal against Cruz Azul in the Campeones Cup final.

Match Detail	Information
Competition	MLS 2026 regular season
Fixture	Inter Miami vs San Diego FC
Final Score	2-2
Messi	1 goal, 20th MLS goal
Messi's Miami tally	101 goals
San Diego scorer	Anders Dreyer, 2 goals
Miami's other scorer	Luis Suárez
Venue	Nu Stadium
Miami record	12W-4L-10D, 46 points

Suarez Puts Miami in Front

Miami controlled much of the second half and kept pushing for the goal that would finally put them ahead.

It arrived in the 74th minute.

Rodrigo De Paul slipped a clever pass into the area for Luis Suárez, who finished first time with his right foot. The goal was Suárez's 13th of the regular season, while De Paul moved to 12 assists. 

At 2-1, Miami appeared to have done enough.

San Diego had other ideas.

Tverskov again found Dreyer with a precise pass, and the Danish forward finished for his second goal of the night in the 82nd minute. The equalizer changed the mood around Nu Stadium and left Miami searching for a winner late on. 

St. Clair then produced an important save in the sixth minute of stoppage time, denying Kieran Sargeant as San Diego threatened to steal all three points. 

The draw leaves Inter Miami vs San Diego as a memorable first meeting between the clubs, but Miami have now drawn four straight MLS matches. They sit on 46 points after 26 games. 

For Messi, there was still another record to take home. His 20th league goal made him only the second player in MLS history to score at least 20 goals in three consecutive seasons, joining Denis Bouanga. 

Miami's next MLS match is away to Columbus Crew on September 27.