Lionel Messi misses penalty as Nashville thrash Inter Miami in MLS

What the report says

Lionel Messi missed a first-half penalty as Inter Miami were beaten 4-1 by Nashville in Major League Soccer on Saturday in Nashville, Tennessee, in a matchup between the league’s top teams, according to Al Jazeera. Messi also received a yellow card and later assisted Miami’s only goal, scored by Telasco Segovia just before halftime.

Nashville took control after Andy Najar opened the scoring with a 17th-minute header. Messi’s weak penalty effort in the 23rd minute was saved by goalkeeper Brian Schwake, and Nashville responded after the break with goals from Hany Mukhtar in the 49th minute, Sam Surridge later in the half, and a second from Mukhtar in the 63rd minute. Messi struck both posts in stoppage time as Miami struggled to recover.

The result ended Miami’s seven-match unbeaten run in MLS and kept Nashville top of the standings with 43 points, ahead of Miami on 38. Al Jazeera also noted that Nashville had already eliminated Miami from the CONCACAF Champions Cup earlier this year, adding to what has become a difficult matchup for the Florida club. As a broader football note, Messi’s penalty record has drawn attention because he has missed several recent spot-kicks, though the article does not provide a full statistical breakdown.