Lionel Messi was the driving force behind Inter Miami's thrilling comeback against FC Cincinnati on Wednesday, May 13th, but Major League Soccer declined to credit him with what would have been the 61st hat-trick of his career. Messi appeared to have a hat trick in the 89th minute when his shot went off the post and deflected off Celentano, but it was corrected to an own goal shortly after the match.
With the comeback sealed, all eyes turned to Messi, who had contributed three goals and an assist to guide Inter Miami to victory, a result that lifted the Herons to second place in the Eastern Conference with 25 points from 13 games. The performance showcased Messi's continued dominance in MLS, but the official scoring decision highlighted the league's strict interpretation of goal attribution rules.
The technical ruling behind the decision
On its official website, the league attributed the 89th-minute goal to an own goal by Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano. The ball had deflected off the post and appeared destined to stay out, but Celentano made slight contact with it on the way through. Because the ball was not crossing the line without his touch, he was credited as having turned it into his own net, stripping Messi of what would have been a historic moment.
This decision reflects MLS's adherence to FIFA's Laws of the Game regarding goal attribution. When a shot is not on target to cross the goal line and only enters the net due to a defender's touch, the goal must be credited as an own goal regardless of the attacking player's intent or proximity to scoring.
Impact on Messi's chase for Ronaldo's record
His all-time career totals now stand at 909 goals and 411 assists across 1,153 games, though his official hat-trick count remains frozen at 60 following MLS's ruling. Messi currently sits second among active players in career hat-tricks, trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo, who leads with 66. Wednesday's performance would have trimmed that gap to five, but with the goal officially credited to Celentano, the chase will have to wait for another night.
The performance moved Messi to 12 goals and four assists in 14 appearances during the 2026 MLS season, a run of form that bodes well for Argentina's title defense at the upcoming World Cup. His production rate in MLS continues to exceed expectations, with the 38-year-old Argentina star recording his 21st multi-goal game in MLS, extending his record for the most such games since his 2023 debut.
What this means for MLS goal-scoring standards
The ruling demonstrates MLS's commitment to maintaining consistent statistical standards as the league's profile continues to rise. With Messi's arrival elevating global attention on MLS records and achievements, the league's adherence to precise goal attribution becomes more significant for historical accuracy.
For Messi, the decision represents a minor setback in his pursuit of Ronaldo's hat trick record, but his overall impact on Inter Miami remains undeniable. It is the third time this season the Argentine superstar has had at least three goal contributions in a match. He is second in the league with 12 goals. The consistency of his performances suggests more legitimate hat trick opportunities will arise as the season progresses.
