Fact Check – Did Lionel Messi Actually Score a Hat Trick in FC Cincinnati vs Inter Miami?

Lionel Messi put in a stellar performance for Inter Miami as the defending Major League Soccer (MLS) champions defeated FC Cincinnati 5-3 in a thrilling match at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Wednesday.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup winning captain opened the scoring for the Herons and remained a constant threat throughout the match, scoring or assisting several times.

As a result, there have been several media claims after the match that Lionel Messi had scored a hat-trick – his first for the Herons this year. Sportstar is doing a fact check on the claim to see if there is actually any truth to it.

Did Lionel Messi actually score a hat-trick in FC Cincinnati vs. Inter Miami?

Messi scored once in each half and in the 89th minute he punched the ball into the net – a ball that seemed to have been given to him. However, after the evaluation it turned out that the last touch of the ball had come from Roman Celentano.

As a result, the third goal was given as an own goal to Celentano, and not to Messi.

The corrected score meant Messi only had two goals and not three, along with an assist.

Published on May 14, 2026