Lionel Messi probably missed Emiliano Martínez more than ever Saturday as he watched his Inter Miami goalkeeper commit an unforgivable blunder.
Inter Miami trailed Nashville SC 3-1 midway through the second half at Geodis Park in Nashville, Tenn. The home team didn’t let a sizable lead stop them from piling on more goals.
The team’s offensive aggression paid off in the 63rd minute, when keeper Brian Schwake punted the ball toward a streaking Hany Mukhtar past the midfield line. Miami keeper Rocco Ríos Novo overran the leading pass and stumbled trying to get back, allowing Mukhtar to score a playground goal off the mistake.
Hany Mukhtar takes advantage to give @NashvilleSC 4-1 over Miami. pic.twitter.com/bkRadAu96H
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 16, 2026
Somewhere halfway across the world, Manuel Neuer probably winced without understanding why. Ríos Novo just showed the world how not to perform as a sweeper-keeper.
Messi didn’t help himself, either. He missed a penalty kick in the first half that would have tied the game 1-1.
Lionel Messi missed a penalty again 🥹 pic.twitter.com/HjH3r8UR7B
— MC (@CrewsMat10) August 16, 2026
La Pulga was already losing his temper just before Ríos Novo’s error. He was seen disrespecting the match referee after receiving a yellow card.
One can only imagine the dour mood inside the Inter Miami locker room after the 4-1 loss.
