Lionel Messi reached uncharted territory with Inter Miami CF on Saturday afternoon, as the Herons fell 4–1 to Minnesota United on Matchday 12 of the MLS regular season. For the first time since the Argentine joined the club in the summer of 2023, he was on the pitch for a loss of three or more goals, even as he scored in a short comeback effort.

Hlongwane scored his first goal of the season to give Minnesota a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute. Hlongwane, who scored a career-high 11 goal last season, slipped behind the defense and perfectly timed his run onto a ball played ahead by Carlos Harvey for a one-touch finish inside the back post from the right corner of the 6-yard box.

After getting things back on track with a victory over the New York Red Bulls, Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will begin a road trip that sees them face one of the best teams in the Western Conference, Minnesota United. The Loons have quietly risen to second in the conference behind a stout defense that will be pushed to the limits facing the Herons.