Messi's 100th appearance ends in historic collapse as Orlando City rallies from 3-0 down

Key facts

• Orlando City defeated Inter Miami 4-3 after trailing 3-0 at Nu Stadium on May 2, 2026.
• Martín Ojeda scored a hat trick for Orlando City, including a penalty to level the match at 3-3.
• Tyrese Spicer scored the winning goal in the 93rd minute, the third minute of stoppage time.
• Lionel Messi recorded a goal and two assists in his 100th appearance for Inter Miami.
• Inter Miami remains winless at Nu Stadium with a record of 0-1-3 at the new venue.
• Orlando City's win is only the third in MLS history where a team rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win.
• Inter Miami's 11-match unbeaten streak across all competitions ended with the loss.
• Inter Miami fell from second to third place in the Eastern Conference with a 5-2-4 record.

A night of history, but not the kind Miami expected

Lionel Messi marked his 100th appearance for Inter Miami with a goal and two assists, yet the night ended in disbelief as Orlando City completed a stunning 4-3 comeback at Nu Stadium. The reigning MLS champions had built a 3-0 lead within 33 minutes, only to concede four unanswered goals, the last of which came in the third minute of stoppage time. "Greatest comeback in MLS HISTORY?" read a headline on the league's website after the match. It was only the third time in MLS history that a team won after trailing by three goals, joining Seattle's 4-3 win over D.C. United in 2017 and LA Galaxy's 4-3 victory over LAFC in 2018.

Ojeda's hat trick spearheads Orlando's revival

Orlando City's Martín Ojeda began the comeback in the 39th minute with a brilliant solo strike, spinning past a defender and firing past goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair. The Argentine Designated Player added two more goals in the second half, including a penalty that leveled the match at 3-3. Ojeda now has seven goals this season. "The way we came out in the first half, it wasn't us," Ojeda said after the game. "In the second half, we came out and showed who we can be as a team. Very proud to win a clásico away and very proud of this group." Interim head coach Martín Perelman praised Ojeda's endurance, noting he played 90 minutes 72 hours earlier in a US Open Cup victory over the New England Revolution.

Miami's defensive frailties exposed after flying start

Inter Miami's first 33 minutes were electric. Ian Fray opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a header, his first goal of the season. Telasco Segovia added a goal and an assist, and Messi orchestrated the attack. But everything unraveled after Ojeda's first goal. Miami's defense, particularly center-backs Micael and Maxi Falcón, struggled against Orlando's direct play. Falcón conceded the penalty that led to Ojeda's equalizer and was consistently beaten in duels. Noah Allen failed to track Tyrese Spicer on the winning goal. Interim coach Guillermo Hoyos, who took over after Javier Mascherano's sudden departure less than three weeks ago, defended his players in his postgame press conference. "I love my players," Hoyos said. "I care about my players because they are my kind, and you will not hear a word from me in a press conference that harms any player to save myself."

Messi's milestone overshadowed by collapse

Messi's 100th appearance for Inter Miami across all competitions featured a goal and two primary assists in the first half, ending a two-game drought without a goal or assist. But his contributions were not enough to secure a win. After the match, Ian Fray revealed that Messi addressed the team in the locker room, calling the outcome "unacceptable." Fray said, "We all agree with him. It is unacceptable." Despite the loss, Messi's performance highlighted his enduring influence, but the team's inability to maintain concentration after taking a commanding lead raised questions about their mental resilience.

Nu Stadium remains a fortress in name only

Inter Miami's new stadium, which opened in April, has yet to yield a win for the home side. The Herons are now 0-1-3 at the venue, with draws against Austin FC, Red Bull New York, and the New England Revolution before Saturday's defeat. The loss was the first time Miami had been beaten on their new turf. "That's the toughest thing. We still haven't won here yet," Fray said. "This was supposed to be the game, up 3-0, that we have to close out. And we missed a huge opportunity." The next home match is scheduled for May 17 against Portland Timbers.

Orlando City's season finds a spark amid struggles

Orlando City entered the match near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings with a 2-7-1 record. The victory was only their third of the season, lifting them to 13th place. Despite their early-season struggles, the Lions have demonstrated attacking quality, as evidenced by a midweek 4-3 win over New England in the US Open Cup. "It's reflective of the work we've been doing," Ojeda said. "The only way to push forward is to continue to work. As a group, we're all very united and focused on the goals we have ahead of us." The comeback could serve as a turning point for a team that has underperformed relative to its talent.

Controversy and frustration mark the final minutes

The match ended in controversy as Inter Miami players and fans protested a possible foul in the box on Orlando City that went uncalled in the final minutes. The Miami crowd booed the referees as players walked off in disbelief. Fray expressed frustration with the officiating but stopped short of criticizing directly, saying, "I don't know how the fines work, so I don't want to get fined. But this guy, something needs to change. We've had him before and he's made really bad decisions. But that's all I'm going to say about the referee. We should have won the game anyway." Noah Allen described the feeling as "devastating," adding, "I'm almost like broken. I never try to take the game too serious, at the end of the day. I want to win. But I don't know. I feel like my girlfriend just broke up with me, if I'm honest. It's a horrible feeling. We have to talk, we have to regroup."

The bottom line

• Inter Miami became only the third MLS team to lose after leading by three goals, ending an 11-match unbeaten run.
• Martín Ojeda's hat trick and Tyrese Spicer's stoppage-time winner sealed Orlando City's historic comeback.
• Lionel Messi's goal and two assists in his 100th appearance were not enough to prevent the collapse.
• Inter Miami remains winless at Nu Stadium (0-1-3), with defensive frailties exposed in the second half.
• Orlando City, despite near the bottom of the standings, showed resilience and attacking quality that could revive their season.
• The loss raises questions about Inter Miami's mental toughness and defensive organization under interim coach Guillermo Hoyos.