Messi praised for ´contagious´ leadership after Miami fight back to beat Orlando

Lionel Messi’s quality and leadership is “contagious” for his Inter Miami team-mates, Javier Mascherano declared after the Herons fought back to beat Florida rivals Orlando City 4-2.

Messi scored twice as Miami registered their first MLS win of 2026 on Sunday, bouncing back from a 3-0 defeat to Los Angeles FC with an entertaining derby success.

They had to do it the hard way, too, after Marco Pasalic and Martin Ojeda scored to put Orlando 2-0 up.

Mateo Silvetti pulled one back for Miami before Messi got his double, scoring either side of a neat side-footed finish from Telasco Segovia.

Messi has now scored eight goals in five career matches against Orlando in all competitions, netting braces in four of those games.

It means Orlando are one of 36 teams, including eight in MLS, that Messi has scored more goals against than he has played games against in his club career.

“Like I’ve said a thousand times, he is obviously the best player to ever play this sport. He’s a leader,” Mascherano said of Messi afterwards. “He is contagious for everyone.

“He inspires others, but he also often needs to be inspired himself.

“When he was driving forward, he had more attacking options, and with so many opportunities, he clearly has the ability to create chances like no one else, and that’s what allowed us to turn the game around.”

Miami finished Sunday’s game with 1.79 expected goals (xG), with Messi responsible for 1.36 xG from that figure.

The Argentina great had eight shots, four more than any other player, and half of those hit the target.

Messi also led the way for chances created, duels contested (11) and duels won (six, level with Braian Ojeda and Tadeo Allende).

Mascherano refused to take any credit for Miami’s comeback, saying: “The win is exclusively because of the players. The team played like champions in the second half.

“There were no tactics, nothing. There was heart, bravery with the ball, resilience, commitment. “I think the team showed why they won [the MLS Cup] last year.”