Messi misses penalty as Inter Miami slump 4-1 to Nashville
Messi started for the first time after his father's death; a missed penalty in the 23rd minute was a turning point in the 4-1 loss on August 16, 2026.
Inter Miami suffered a 4-1 loss to Nashville in an MLS fixture on August 16, 2026, a match in which Lionel Messi returned to the starting XI for the first time since the death of his father. The Argentine captain could not influence the scoreline and missed a key penalty that might have changed the game's momentum.
Missed spot-kick and a disallowed rebound
The decisive moment came in the 23rd minute, when Messi stepped up for a penalty and placed his shot toward the goalkeeper's lower right corner. The Nashville keeper reacted and saved the attempt. Sergio Reguilón followed the play into the box and appeared to convert from the rebound, but the goal was ruled out because Reguilón had entered the penalty area before the kick was taken.
That miss was Messi's third consecutive penalty failure. Previously, he had missed from the spot against Austria in the World Cup group stage and against Egypt in the round of 16. It is the first time since 2014 that Messi has missed three penalties.
"⛔️🇦🇷 LIONEL MESSI STRUCK THE POSTS TWICE IN STOPPAGE TIME." — Ataque Futbolero (@AtaqueFutbolero) August 16, 2026
The defeat was Inter Miami's third in a row across all competitions; the earlier two losses came in the League Cup against Mexican opposition, while this was the first of those three in MLS play.
For Inter Miami, the result raises fresh questions about form and consistency as the club navigates a congested schedule and the emotional return of its marquee player. The coach and squad now face pressure to regroup ahead of upcoming matches.
Photo: Inter Majami H
