Lionel Messi scored on the opening night of Inter Miami’s new Nu Stadium on Saturday, but his effort was not enough to secure a win as the defending MLS champions were held to a 2-2 draw by Austin FC.
Messi headed in the equaliser in the 10th minute after an early opener from Guilherme Biro. The match remained tight, with Luis Suárez later scoring a late equaliser in the 82nd minute after Austin regained the lead through Jayden Nelson.
Despite a late push, Inter Miami had to settle for a draw on a historic night for the club.
Miami Fight Back After Austin’s Early Goal
Inter Miami responded after Austin FC started brightly and came close to earning a penalty within the opening 30 seconds. Austin took the lead in the 6th minute when Guilherme Biro headed in from a Facundo Torres corner, scoring the first goal at Nu Stadium.
Messi brought the home side back into the match in the 10th minute. He timed his run to perfection, meeting Ian Fray’s cross and guiding a precise header into the top-right corner to level the score at 1-1. The goal marked his fifth MLS regular-season strike of 2026 and the first Inter Miami goal at the new stadium.
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Austin Strike Again to Regain the Lead
The second half brought a swift reminder of Austin’s danger. In the 53rd minute, Joseph Rosales picked the ball clean off Messi’s feet, a rare turnover from the Argentine and drove forward before releasing Myrto Uzuni.
Uzuni’s clever first-time diagonal ball, aided by a slight deflection off Miami’s Noah Allen, found halftime substitute Jayden Nelson sprinting in behind the defence. Nelson finished calmly off the inside of the left post. 2-1 to Austin.
It was a well-worked goal, and it put Miami firmly on the back foot heading into the final half-hour.
Suarez Strikes to Bring Miami Back into the Game
With Miami increasingly desperate, coach Javier Mascherano turned to a familiar face. Luis Suarez entered the pitch in the 73rd minute, and nine minutes later he made his mark. Lionel Messi’s corner was flicked on by German Berterame in the Austin defence, and Suarez instincts as sharp as ever, prodded home from close range. His first MLS goal of the 2026 season. 2-2. The celebrations told the whole story.
Miami pushed hard for a winner in the closing stages. Suarez thought he’d grabbed it moments later after a Messi free-kick rattled the bar, but the flag went up for offside. Deep into stoppage time, Messi collected inside the box and drove low, Brad Stuver got down well to his left to deny him. The final whistle blew and the spoils were shared.
Match Overview: Inter Miami vs Austin FC
| Details | Inter Miami | Austin FC |
| Final Score | 2 | 2 |
| Goal Scorers | Messi (10′), Suarez (82′) | Biro (6′), Nelson (53′) |
| Possession | Slightly higher | Competitive |
| Key Moment | Late equalizer by Suarez | Early & second-half goals |
| Result Impact | Unbeaten streak continues | Winless streak continues |
Wrapping Up the Match
The defending MLS Cup champions remain unbeaten in five league matches this season. If they can tighten things up at the back, this team has the quality to go all the way again.
The attention now shifts to the next match of Inter Miami FC against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Nu Stadium.
The team must maintain their current record of not having lost any games in the league if they hope to enhance their chances for continued success. In order to do so, they will be relying heavily upon Lionel Messi’s impact as they prepare for the next phase of their schedule.
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