MLS sparks controversy by chalking off Messi goal, denying him his hat‑trick

Inter Miami kept rolling in Matchday 13, delivering the highest‑scoring game of the round — on what also became the single most goal‑packed day in MLS history. With the 5–3 victory, Lionel Messi and Las Garzas jumped to second place in the Eastern Conference with 25 points, just two behind Nashville, who still have a game in hand.

The match was pure chaos in the best way. Mateo Silvetti opened the scoring, Germán Berterame added another, and Messi appeared to complete a hat‑trick… until MLS stepped in.

What was initially celebrated as Messi’s third goal was later ruled an own goal by goalkeeper Roman Celentano, sparking immediate backlash from fans online.

The controversial play: should Messi’s third goal have been credited as an own goal?

The moment everyone is talking about came in the 88th minute of the game. Messi, already with two goals, received a pass from Silvetti and fired a right‑footed shot from near the penalty spot. The ball hit the post, rolled across the goal line, and ended up in the net — prompting Messi to celebrate what looked like his hat‑trick.

But more than an hour after the final whistle, MLS announced on social media that the goal had been reassigned.

“Correction: After review by the statistics department, this goal has been classified as an own goal by Roman Celentano,” MLS posted on X.

According to the league, Celentano made contact with the ball after it hit the post, redirecting it into the net — meaning the goal could not be credited to Messi.

Fans of the Argentine star immediately flooded social media demanding the league restore the hat‑trick, but the ruling stands: Messi finished with a brace, not a triple.

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