Messi’s sweet interaction with a child wins over fans before Inter Miami match
Lionel Messi didn’t need a goal to steal the spotlight. A heartwarming moment with a young fan before kickoff captured everyone’s attention.
I nter Miami failed to hold onto its lead and settled for a draw against FC Cincinnati , but before the match even began, Lionel Messi stole the spotlight — and not because of the magic he creates with the ball at his feet, but because of a heartwarming interaction with a child.
Messi’s Beautiful Moment With Young Fan
The Argentine superstar was captured by cameras sharing a moment with the child who accompanied him before kickoff , and the youngster’s reaction brought a smile to Messi’s face — a moment that quickly caught the attention of fans.
How Did Inter Miami vs. FC Cincinnati End?
Riquelme Fillipi scored his first MLS goal in the 90th minute to cap a late-game offensive surge, and Lionel Messi and Inter Miami escaped with a 2-2 draw against FC Cincinnati on Wednesday night.
Luis Suárez opened the scoring in the 61st minute to give Miami a 1-0 lead, but the reigning MLS Cup champions needed a late response to avoid defeat and secure a valuable point.
The result, however, dropped Inter Miami to third place in the Eastern Conference after New England Revolution defeated the New York Red Bulls 3-2 on Wednesday.
That victory moved New England to 58 points , two ahead of Miami with two regular-season matches remaining, including a crucial head-to-head matchup between the teams this Sunday in Foxborough, Massachusetts .
Inter Miami salvages point with dramatic late goal
Cincinnati appeared on track for a historic victory after turning the match around in the second half. Kenji Mboma Dem equalized in the 80th minute, and Samuel Gidi scored his first MLS goal six minutes later to give the visitors a temporary 2-1 lead.
Gidi capitalized on a counterattack and finished from the top of the box, putting Cincinnati within reach of a major result that would have helped secure its playoff spot.
But Fillipi came through for Inter Miami. The youngster fired home from the left side of the box in the 90th minute, nearly from the same area where Suárez had scored earlier, to seal the final 2-2 scoreline.
In stoppage time, Cincinnati had one final chance to claim all three points. Evander found himself with an opportunity from around the penalty spot, but Miami defender Ian Fray stepped in front of the shot and deflected it away to prevent the loss.
The following corner kick created no danger, and the match ended level.
Massive Match Against New England Ahead
Now, Sunday’s clash against New England Revolution becomes a crucial fixture for Inter Miami. The result could determine not only which team finishes as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference , but also play a major role in the MLS Cup playoffs picture .
Messi’s team will then close out the regular season on November 7 against Charlotte FC at home.
Before the match, MLS announced that Cincinnati will visit Inter Miami on February 19 for the start of next season’s Sprint Season, a special campaign designed as a transition between the league’s current calendar and the new international-aligned schedule beginning in July 2027 .
Meanwhile, Cincinnati missed a major opportunity to move closer to clinching a playoff berth. The club needed a win over Miami and a Columbus loss against Dallas to officially secure its postseason spot.
