Lionel Messi delivered a commanding performance with two goals and two assists to power Inter Miami to a 5-1 comeback victory over the New York Red Bulls on Saturday night.

Trailing 1-0 in the first half, Miami erupted with three quick goals — including two from Telasco Segovia — to take a 3-1 lead into halftime at Red Bull Arena. 

The win marked Inter Miami’s sixth in their last seven Major League Soccer outings, bouncing back from a midweek defeat to FC Cincinnati that snapped their five-match winning streak.

Messi, who had seen his MLS-record streak of five consecutive multi-goal games end on Wednesday, promptly started a new one with another brace on Saturday. 

He now has 18 goals this season, contributing to 27 total goals either scored or assisted.

New York opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Alexander Hack finished off a corner from Emil Forsberg, slotting the ball past goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo, who started in place of the injured Oscar Ustari.

Miami’s response was swift. Jordi Alba netted the equalizer in the 24th minute, tapping in a Messi cross for his first MLS goal of the season. Three minutes later, Messi linked up with Luis Suárez and Alba in a slick passing sequence that set up Segovia’s first goal of the night.

Segovia added his second in first-half stoppage time, pouncing on a loose ball inside the box and firing past Red Bulls keeper Carlos Miguel Coronel to make it 3-1.

Messi added the finishing touches in the second half with goals in the 60th and 75th minutes, sealing a dominant display from the visitors.

The Red Bulls, now 9-9-6 on the season, failed to secure back-to-back home wins and fell to Inter Miami for the second time this year. Despite nine total attempts, they managed just one shot on target to Miami’s eight.

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