Lionel Messi has made a behavior of tormenting Main League Soccer defences since becoming a member of Inter Miami in 2023, racking up targets at a exceptional fee to turn out to be the fledgling membership’s all-time high goalscorer.
However even the nice Messi has discovered just a few groups tougher to crack than others. Whether or not via cussed defending, unhealthy luck or just an absence of alternatives, there are eight MLS golf equipment nonetheless ready to concede their first objective to the Argentinian icon.
Of the 30 MLS franchises, listed here are the eight that Messi is but to attain in opposition to within the competitors.
LAFC
Provided that Inter Miami and Los Angeles Soccer Membership are in several conferences, they haven’t confronted each other all too typically – simply twice in MLS within the Messi period.
The primary was a 3-1 away win again in April 2023. Messi didn’t rating however he did arrange targets for Jordi Alba and Leonardo Campana. Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Holland, Selena Gomez, Will Ferell and Owen Wilson have been all in attendance for that one. Pure Hollywood.
LAFC bought their revenge in a 3-0 victory over Inter Miami within the opener of the 2026 MLS season. It was a turbulent begin to the season for the reigning champions and Javier Mascherano didn’t final for much longer within the job.
Messi won’t have scored in opposition to LAFC in MLS, however he has scored in opposition to them within the CONCACAF Champions Cup, North America’s equal of the Champions League. He scored twice and arrange one other as Miami produced a second-leg quarter-final comeback again in 2025.
Actual Salt Lake
Messi has performed twice in opposition to Western Convention outfit Actual Salt Lake – finishing 90 minutes in routine 2-0 victories within the 2024 and 2026 campaigns.
He didn’t rating, however he did help Finland worldwide Robert Taylor for the opener within the first recreation, whereas he drew a uncommon clean within the second.
Chicago Fireplace
Inter Miami have confronted off in opposition to Chicago Fireplace six instances since Messi’s arrival. However he’s solely featured in two of these video games.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was sidelined for a 4-1 defeat in October 2023, whereas a ligament damage saved him out of the league double Miami accomplished over Chicago within the 2024 MLS marketing campaign.
Messi lastly performed in opposition to the Fireplace in a forgettable goalless draw final April, earlier than failing to attain or help in a madcap 5-3 defeat within the return fixture.
He was nonetheless resting 4 days after this yr’s World Cup last defeat when his Inter Miami team-mates, impressed by a Luis Suarez brace, beat a Chicago Fireplace aspect recent from signing Robert Lewandowski 3-2.
San Jose Earthquakes
Messi has performed simply as soon as in opposition to San Jose Earthquakes – and it was a six-goal thriller, a 3-3 draw again in Could 2025.
The veteran famous person accomplished 90 minutes, however he surprisingly didn’t have a direct hand in any of Inter Miami’s three targets. Jordi Alba notched two assists, and Tadeo Allende scored twice.
Vancouver Whitecaps
Inter Miami beat Vancouver 2-1 in Messi’s absence again in Could 2024. That’s their solely common season MLS assembly since he joined the membership.
Messi had confronted off in opposition to the Whitecaps within the semi-finals of the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup. He performed each minute of each legs as Inter Miami have been effectively overwhelmed house and away, dropping 2-0 and 3-1.
He bought revenge within the last of final yr’s MLS Cup, although. He didn’t rating, however he assisted Rodrigo De Paul and Tadeo Allende’s targets in a 3-1 victory that topped Inter Miami MLS champions for the primary time within the Messi period.
FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, San Diego FC*
*Messi hasn’t scored in opposition to the above groups in MLS (he did rating twice in a penalty shootout victory over Dallas within the 2023 Leagues Cup) however there’s a reasonably good motive for that…
…He nonetheless hasn’t performed in opposition to them.
Inter Miami performed Texan sides Dallas and Houston of their 2025 MLS-winning marketing campaign, however he sat out each of these matches.
2025 MLS enlargement outfit San Diego are set to play their first-ever assembly in opposition to Inter Miami in September. One to observe.
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