Lionel Messi endured a bruising evening as Inter Miami’s 4-1 defeat at Nashville SC laid bare a night of squandered chances in the MLS. Eleven shots brought no goal, a penalty was missed, and two efforts smacked the woodwork. An assist offered scant consolation in a 90-minute display rated at 6.2.

Waste without reward

Miami’s No 10 peppered Geodis Park but rarely threatened to settle it. He finished with 11 attempts: just two on target, five off target and four blocked. A penalty miss and two strikes against the frame summed up a wayward night.

The numbers were stark: 1.49 expected goals yielded nothing, while two big chances went begging. For once, the net refused to get the memo.

Muted influence in open play

Beyond the finishing, Messi’s creative output flickered rather than burned. He completed 26 of 34 passes, produced only one key pass and one big chance created, and posted 0.11 expected assists. He managed 58 touches, two crosses and one accurate long ball from two attempts.

He did register an assist — Miami’s lone consolation — but it barely shifted the narrative.

Sloppy edges, little resistance

Possession spilled away too often: 16 times lost, with three unsuccessful touches and two dispossessions. One offside, a single ball recovery and a 4–3 duel record underlined a performance heavy on activity, light on control.

The contrast with his season

Against the grain of a productive campaign — 12 goals, eight assists and an average rating of 8.38 across 16 appearances — this was a sizeable dip. He has created 14 big chances this season; here, just one. He has hit the woodwork six times in MLS; two came in Nashville. His season penalty conversion sits at 50%; this miss did nothing to improve it.

Verdict

Plenty of volume, precious little clarity. On a night when Miami needed incision, Messi sprayed, clipped and clattered — but rarely convinced.