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Inter Miami battled back from an early deficit to pull off a thrilling 6-4 victory over Philadelphia Union, but the night was overshadowed by a worrying injury to Lionel Messi, who left the pitch in the second half. Luis Suarez led the charge with a hat-trick as Miami showcased remarkable resilience in what became the second-highest scoring match in MLS history. With the World Cup less than three weeks away, all eyes are now on Messi’s fitness.

The contest was chaotic from the outset. Philadelphia struck first when Milan Iloski opened the scoring, and just six minutes later, he doubled their advantage to make it 2-0. Miami looked shaky early on, but the Herons rarely stay down for long. German Berterame pulled one back in the 13th minute after finishing a clever cutback from Messi.

However, Miami’s defensive issues persisted. Bruno Damiani restored Philadelphia’s two-goal cushion following a flowing move initiated by the lively Cavan Sullivan. Miami responded once more as Suarez converted another Messi assist to make it 3-2 before Berterame drew level shortly after. Suarez then struck again just before halftime, giving Miami a 4-3 lead heading into the break.

Philadelphia refused to fold. Miami conceded a penalty after a needless handball, which Iloski confidently converted to complete his hat-trick. The second half was calmer, with Sullivan threatening briefly before being substituted. The tension rose when Messi appeared to pull up, clutching his left leg, before signaling for a substitution.

Despite losing their captain, Miami continued to push forward. Substitute Mateo Silvetti made an immediate impact, threading a key pass in the buildup to Suarez’s third goal before setting up Rodrigo De Paul for the sixth in stoppage time. De Paul’s composed finish sealed a wild encounter.

It was a chaotic night — perhaps not Miami’s preferred style — but they will happily take the three points.

Here are GOAL’s ratings for Inter Miami at Nu Stadium:

Goalkeeper & Defense

Dayne St. Clair (4/10): A night to forget. Could do little about the penalties but shared blame on one of the four goals conceded.

Ian Fray (7/10): Registered an assist and held his flank solidly. Dependable throughout the match.

Gonzalo Lujan (5/10): Inconsistent display, diving in recklessly at times and struggling to contain Iloski.

Micael (5/10): Showed poor composure with some rash tackles. Has yet to demonstrate the calmness expected of him in central defence.

Sergio Reguilon (5/10): Conceded a penalty and misplaced several passes in attacking areas. Showed flashes of good defending but still adapting to the setup.

Midfield

Yannick Bright (6/10): Looked unsettled at times in the holding role. The match’s frantic tempo prevented him from gaining control.

Rodrigo De Paul (7/10): Frequently caught out of position while drifting wide on the right. Defensively vulnerable in transition but made amends with Miami’s sixth goal late on.

Telasco Segovia (5/10): Worked hard but had minimal impact. Covered plenty of ground without influencing play meaningfully. Substituted after 65 minutes.

Attack

Lionel Messi (8/10): Provided two assists and could have had more if teammates were more clinical. Forced off after 70 minutes with an injury concern — a worrying sign for both club and country.

German Berterame (8/10): Netted twice, added an assist, and consistently stretched Philadelphia’s backline. Far more composed than in recent outings — an excellent showing from the Mexican forward.

Luis Suarez (9/10): A masterclass in finishing. Two simple tap-ins and one superb acrobatic effort summed up a ruthless striker’s performance.

Substitutes & Manager

David Ayala (7/10): Brought much-needed composure to midfield after coming on. Miami looked more balanced with him in control.

Facundo Mura (6/10): Added energy and defensive stability at fullback.

Mateo Silvetti (7/10): Replaced Messi and played a key role in the fifth goal’s buildup. Also assisted the sixth — a promising display from the youngster.

Noah Allen (6/10): Introduced late to solidify the defence and help preserve the lead.

David Ruiz (N/A): Came on too late to make a significant impact.

Guillermo Hoyos (6/10): Difficult to assess. Miami were disorganised for stretches but still managed to come out on top. Chaotic yet effective management from the coach.