Inter Miami Stuns NY Red Bulls 4-0 In Dominant MLS Showdown
Inter Miami delivered a statement performance Saturday night, crushing the New York Red Bulls 4-0 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. The match, which aired nationally on Apple TV, has surged in online searches as fans react to one of the most lopsided results in recent MLS rivalry history.
Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a clinical finish, marking his eighth goal of the season. The Argentine superstar later assisted on Robert Taylor's 38th-minute strike before Luis Suárez sealed the victory with a second-half brace (51', 76'). The Red Bulls, who entered the match as Eastern Conference leaders, suffered their worst defeat of 2026.
The match is trending nationally due to its implications for the MLS playoff picture and Messi's continued dominance at age 38. Social media erupted with highlights of Miami's fluid attacking play, while Red Bulls coach Sandro Schwarz called the result "unacceptable" in postgame comments. MLS officials confirmed the match set a new single-game attendance record for Chase Stadium at 21,105 fans.
Inter Miami's victory moves them within three points of Eastern Conference leaders FC Cincinnati, while the Red Bulls maintain a slim one-point advantage in second place. Both teams face quick turnarounds, with Miami visiting Nashville SC on Wednesday and New York hosting Charlotte FC the same night.
The lopsided scoreline surprised analysts, as the Red Bulls had conceded just seven goals total in their previous nine matches. Miami's four-goal outburst matched their combined offensive output from their last five league matches. Goalkeeper Drake Callender preserved the shutout with six saves, including a spectacular 64th-minute stop on Elias Manoel.
Apple TV reported the match drew the second-highest MLS viewership of 2026, trailing only the season opener between Inter Miami and Real Salt Lake. The broadcast featured multiple shots of David Beckham celebrating in the owners' box, with the former England star visibly emotional after Suárez's second goal.
Postgame, Messi told reporters through a translator: "We knew this was a measuring stick game. The entire team showed our quality when it matters most." The result marks Miami's first-ever regular season victory against New York after going 0-3-2 in previous meetings.
With the win, Inter Miami improves to 5-2-3 (18 points) while the Red Bulls fall to 6-3-1 (19 points). The teams won't meet again until September 20 at Red Bull Arena in a match that could have major playoff seeding implications.
