Published On 4/23/2026
Veteran Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez scored his first goal of the Major League Soccer (MLS) season, while his fellow Argentine star Lionel Messi was unable to score in Inter Miami’s late victory over its host Real Salt Lake City 2-0 on Wednesday.
Fans who paid high ticket prices, averaging more than $450, to watch Messi in his first match in Salt Lake City, enjoyed his full participation for 90 minutes.
According to the Tech Peak website, Wednesday’s game was “the most expensive of the MLS season,” with the average ticket price reaching $468.
Messi’s team has not been defeated since its opening 0-3 loss to Los Angeles FC, led by South Korean Heung-Min Son.
Messi created chances but did not score
Messi created several chances, but failed to score against Brazilian goalkeeper Rafael Cabral, and was forced to rely on his compatriot Rodrigo de Paul to crack the code in the 82nd minute.
De Paul’s goal came with a powerful, wonderful shot from his right from outside the area following a pass from Colombian Telasco Segovia after a corner kick that went into the far left corner of goalkeeper Cabral’s goal (82).
Suarez, who came on as a substitute for Argentine Tadeo Allende in the 75th minute, sealed the victory after one minute, when he exchanged the ball with Mexican Germán Berterami at the edge of the area and shot it “on the fly” with his left inside and deposited it into the far left corner for Cabral (83).
De Paul told Apple TV after Miami achieved its second successive victory under the leadership of his compatriot, interim coach Guillermo Hoyos, successor to their compatriot Javier Mascherano: “I think we played a great first half.”
He added after his goal, which ended a series of 6 matches without losing for Salt Lake City: “It was a beautiful goal, and as long as it serves the team, this is a wonderful thing.”
Suarez, the 39-year-old former Liverpool and Barcelona striker, opened his score in 2026, scoring his 44th goal in 93 matches for Inter Miami.
Inter Miami ranks second in the Eastern Conference with 18 points, one point behind Nashville, which has a game in hand.
