Inter Miami ended their nine-game winning streak across all competitions with a 0-0 draw against Nashville SC in Major League Soccer, as Lionel Messi failed to secure a goal.
This outcome marks the first time that Miami has not clinched a victory since Messi’s arrival from PSG in July.
Despite attempting seven shots during the match, the 36-year-old was unable to break the deadlock.
Since joining in July, Messi has netted 11 goals in nine matches.
With 10 games remaining, the draw places Miami 17 points away from automatic qualification for the MLS playoffs.
The Florida-based team, co-owned by former England captain David Beckham, holds the 14th position out of 15 teams in the Eastern Conference, garnering 22 points from 24 fixtures.
After the regular season, the top seven teams in each conference advance to playoffs. Eighth and ninth-place teams enter wildcards, leading to the MLS Cup champion through a knockout format.
Earlier in August, Messi contributed to Inter Miami’s inaugural trophy win by scoring in their Leagues Cup final victory over Nashville.
For the second consecutive game, Lionel Messi refrained from speaking to reporters after Inter Miami’s 0-0 draw against Nashville SC on Wednesday, which violates the league’s media regulations.
Messi was unavailable for interviews following his debut in the MLS against the New York Red Bulls the previous weekend.
Continuing this trend, the Argentine star once again chose not to engage with the media following his team’s hard-earned point in Fort Lauderdale.
MLS communications Vice President Dan Courtemanche affirmed players, including Messi, were obligated to be available for post-game media interactions.
Certain teams navigate around the league’s media accessibility policy, especially the open locker room access, by designating specific players for interviews or press conferences.