Lionel Messi reached uncharted territory with Inter Miami CF on Saturday afternoon, as the Herons fell 4–1 to Minnesota United on Matchday 12 of the MLS regular season. For the first time since the Argentine joined the club in the summer of 2023, he was on the pitch for a loss of three or more goals, even as he scored in a short comeback effort.

It was only the eighth loss in Messi's 53 appearances for IMCF across all competitions. Previously, the worst scorelines with the Argentinian World Cup winner on the pitch were 3-1 defeats to Vancouver in 2025 (Champions Cup), Monterrey in 2024 (Champions Cup) and Atlanta United in 2024 (MLS regular season).

Lionel Messi was powerless to prevent Inter Miami from slipping to its biggest defeat in MLS play since his arrival in North America, falling 4-1 at Minnesota United on Saturday. Previously, there had only been one two-goal defeat with Messi — a 1-3 home loss to Atlanta United in May last year.