Lionel Messi demonstrated his enduring genius on September 28, 2024, scoring a spectacular long-range goal to rescue a 1-1 draw for Inter Miami against Charlotte FC at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, extending Miami’s unbeaten MLS streak to eight matches.
Charlotte FC shocked the home crowd in the 56th minute when Polish striker Karol Świderski cleverly deflected Brandt Bronico’s shot past Drake Callender to give Dean Smith’s side a 1-0 lead.
Inter Miami rallied under head coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino, dominating 61% of ball possession. The moment of brilliance arrived in the 67th minute when Marcelo Weigandt collected possession on the right flank and fed Messi. The Argentine icon shifted past two defenders before launching a curling left-footed strike from 22 yards into the bottom corner.
The goal was Messi’s 15th in 16 MLS appearances during an injury-disrupted 2024 campaign. Supported by Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, Messi produced four key passes and tested Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina on three separate occasions.
Lineups & Tactical Setup: Inter Miami (4-3-3): Callender; Weigandt, Avilés, Busquets, Alba; Bright, Redondo, Gressel; Messi, Suárez, Gómez. Charlotte FC (4-3-3): Kahlina; Byrne, Malanda, Ream, Uronen; Westwood, Diani, Bronico; Abada, Świderski, Biel. Dean Smith’s organized low block frustrated Miami early, forcing Messi to drop deeper to initiate attacks.