Inter Miami‘s growing maturity may have been the biggest takeaway from their latest MLS victory, even if Lionel Messi‘s name wasn’t on the scoresheet.
In a match that tested patience as much as quality, Miami found answers late, leaning on Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suarez to secure a 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake.
For Messi, the response afterward reflected a broader shift in mindset. Rather than focusing on individual brilliance, the Argentine highlighted the collective effort behind the result.
“Great team work and 2nd consecutive away visitor win,” Messi wrote on Instagram, a concise message that underlined the importance of back to back road wins under interim head coach Guillermo Hoyos.
The result keeps Miami firmly in the Eastern Conference race and extends a positive run since Hoyos stepped in following Javier Mascherano‘s departure. It also hinted at a team becoming less dependent on its most famous player.
Messi, still central to everything Miami created, played the full match and delivered a typically influential performance. He registered four shots on target, created three chances and consistently dictated the tempo, even if he was denied by goalkeeper Rafael Cabral.
Patience rewarded as Miami find late breakthrough
For long stretches, the game felt like it might slip into frustration. Real Salt Lake, unbeaten in six matches prior to kickoff, absorbed pressure and limited clear openings despite Miami‘s control.
The breakthrough finally came in the 82nd minute. De Paul, a trusted presence alongside Messi for Argentina, stepped up with a moment of precision, curling a strike from distance beyond Cabral to open the scoring.
“It was a beautiful goal, and as long as it helps the team, that’s great,” De Paul said after the match, emphasising the collective focus that has defined Miami‘s recent form.
The lead lasted barely two minutes before Suarez added a second. The 39-year-old forward, still capable of decisive contributions, met a loose ball at the edge of the area and finished with a composed left footed volley to seal the win.
The late double not only secured three points but also ended Real Salt Lake‘s unbeaten run, reinforcing Miami‘s credentials as one of the league’s in form sides.
A different kind of Messi influence emerging
While Messi‘s statistical output continues to draw attention, performances like this highlight a more subtle evolution in his role. With 57 goals and 37 assists in just 61 MLS appearances, he remains on track to challenge the fastest to 100 goal contributions record, currently held by Sebastian Giovinco at 95 games.
Yet this match offered something different. Miami showed they could win without relying on Messi to deliver the decisive moment, a development that could prove crucial over the course of a demanding season.
The broader context only strengthens that narrative. Miami have responded well since an early season setback and now sit near the top of the standings, with a squad that is beginning to share responsibility in key moments.
For Messi, that balance could be the key to sustaining success. His influence remains undeniable, but as teammates like De Paul and Suarez step forward, Miami‘s attacking threat becomes far less predictable.
If this performance is any indication, Inter Miami may be entering a phase where their biggest strength is not just having Messi, but no longer needing him to do everything.
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