Messi Leads the Way as Inter Miami Honors Busquets in Fort Lauderdale
Inter Miami CF turned Chase Stadium into a night to remember, combining a dominant 4–1 win over the New England Revolution with a post-match farewell to one of the game’s modern legends, Sergio Busquets.
Lionel Messi once again pulled the strings for Miami, finishing with three assists in a performance that reminded everyone why he remains the heartbeat of this squad. His latest showing pushed his season totals to 24 goals and 17 assists — 41 combined contributions — making him only the second player in MLS history to cross the 40 mark in a single regular season, trailing only Carlos Vela’s 49 with LAFC in 2019.
The breakthrough came in the 32nd minute when Messi slipped a perfect ball through traffic to Tadeo Allende for the opener. Just before halftime, he linked up with former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba, who doubled the lead with a clean finish in stoppage time.
New England got one back early in the second half through Dor Turgeman, but Miami responded instantly. A minute later, Messi found Allende again for his second goal of the night, before Alba capped his brace in the 63rd minute to seal the 4–1 victory.
Head coach Javier Mascherano praised Messi’s timing and leadership after the match, crediting his ability to change the rhythm when the game tightened. “When they made it 2–1, he responded instantly with an assist only he can see,” Mascherano said. “That’s what makes him special — the vision, the calm, the hunger.”
After the final whistle, the spotlight shifted to Busquets, who was honored in an emotional retirement ceremony in front of a packed home crowd. Teammates, family, and friends surrounded the veteran midfielder as video tributes from past coaches and Barcelona teammates played across the big screen. Busquets thanked supporters for embracing him during his final chapter, saying, “A part of my heart will always stay here.”
The victory keeps Miami sitting third in the Eastern Conference with 59 points — a position that would secure home-field advantage in the opening round of the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs.
For Busquets, the night marked the end of an era. For Messi, it was another step toward rewriting MLS history. And for Inter Miami, it was a reminder that this team’s mix of emotion and excellence could carry them deep into the postseason.