New York City 0-4 Inter Miami Player Ratings: Lionel Messi Rated 9.5/10 as Messi Masterclass Secures 4-0 Drubbing

Inter Miami went to Citi Field and beat New York City 4-0 in Major League Soccer. The game was all about the World Cup Champion Lionel Messi. The Argentine star was unstoppable, controlling the match and putting on a brilliant display at an age when footballers start planning their retirement. He seemed to be everywhere on the pitch to help the visitors.

Baltasar Rodríguez calmly slotted a goal after being put through by a classic Messi pass, which put Inter Miami over New York City. Inter Miami raised their level, and New York City couldn’t keep up. The main difference we noticed was the clear gap in quality in midfield. On one side, the numerical superiority in the central area was helping Inter Miami to keep the ball, New York City, on the other hand, was finding it difficult to drive past defensive lines.

Messi grabbed his first goal in the 74th minute, a sublime through ball from his old friend Sergio Busquets setting him up perfectly. A clumsy challenge from Justin Haak then gifted ex-Barcelona striker Luis Suarez a penalty, which he dispatched with no fuss. Messi wasn't done, adding a fourth late on to complete the rout. For all their effort, NYCFC hitting the post twice, this match will be remembered as a brutal lesson in clinical finishing.

Here are the New York City Vs Inter Miami Player Ratings

New York City Player Ratings vs Inter Miami

Here are the New York City Player Ratings vs Inter Miami

Goalkeeper

Matt Freese - 5.5: A thankless task for the keeper. He conceded four goals, but honestly, it could have been six or seven. He made a couple of impressive saves, including a brilliant one to deny Messi from long range late in the game. From our perspective, he couldn't have done much about any of the goals. It's tough to rate a keeper in a 4-0 loss, but he prevented total annihilation.

Defenders

Thiago Martins - 5.0: The captain looked lost at sea. He was part of a defensive unit that was constantly pulled out of position by Miami's fluid attack. Had one of NYCFC's best chances with a header that was saved. He was rightly substituted in the second half. A day he'll want to forget quickly.

Kevin O'Toole - 6.0: Tried to offer something going forward. He had a decent shot on target that forced a good save and even created a chance. Defensively however, he was part of a backline that was just overwhelmed. He was one of the few who showed a bit of energy, but it wasn't nearly enough.

Tayvon Gray - 5.0: A difficult evening for the defender. He was caught in possession a couple of times and struggled with the movement of Miami's forwards. We noticed he was often chasing shadows, unable to get close enough to make a challenge. He was part of a collective failure at the back.

Justin Haak - 4.0: A disastrous performance. He looked completely out of his depth against world-class opposition. Giving away the penalty was the lowlight of his night, a clumsy challenge born of desperation. He picked up a yellow card for his troubles and offered little security at the back. A really, really tough game for the young defender.

Midfielders

Andrés Perea - 5.5: Battled hard in midfield but it was a losing fight. He was booked for a clumsy challenge and committed several fouls. He was simply outclassed by the likes of Busquets. From our perspective, he spent most of the game chasing the ball without ever really influencing the play.

Maxi Moralez - 6.0: One of the few home players who seemed to have any creative spark. He had a shot blocked and tried to get his team moving forward. What stood out to us was his frustration, as he tried to make things happen but his teammates weren't on the same wavelength. A lone voice in the wilderness.

Hannes Wolf - 5.0: Almost completely anonymous. He was on the pitch for an hour but we're struggling to remember anything significant he did. He lost the ball a few times and offered nothing in attack or defence. His substitution was no surprise.

Aiden O'Neill - 6.5: The quiet standout for a beaten team. His pass accuracy was a staggering 97%, and he made an incredible 11 ball recoveries. In a game where his team barely had the ball, he was tidy and efficient when he did. A solid, if ultimately fruitless, performance.

Agustín Ojeda - 5.5: Another player who ran a lot but achieved very little. He was busy and made a couple of tackles, but his impact in the final third was non-existent. Substituted in the second half as his team searched for a way back into a game that was already gone.

Forwards

Nicolás Fernández Mercau - 7.0: The clear best player for New York City. He was a constant threat and desperately unlucky not to score. He created two massive chances and even hit the woodwork. If anyone deserved a goal for the home side, it was him. He played with heart and quality in a team that lacked both.

Substitutes

Alonso Martínez, Jonathan Shore, Julián Fernández - 6.0: The subs came on with the game already slipping away. Alonso Martínez was unlucky to hit the post with a late effort. They added some fresh legs but couldn't change the outcome.

Manager

P. Jansen - 5.0: His team was tactically outthought and outfought from the first minute to the last. He had no answer for Messi, no plan to control the midfield, and his side looked defensively shambolic. A truly humbling experience for the manager.

Inter Miami Player Ratings vs New York City

Here are the Inter Miami Player Ratings vs New York City

Goalkeeper

Óscar Ustari - 7.0: He didn't have a ton to do, but what he did, he did well. He made a couple of important saves to preserve his clean sheet, most notably from a Kevin O'Toole effort. A confident and commanding presence in goal. Easy money for him tonight.

Defenders

Ian Fray - 7.0: A really solid and composed performance before his substitution. He was positionally sound and didn't give the NYCFC attackers a sniff. He contributed to the build-up play effectively. We were impressed by his maturity on the ball.

Jordi Alba - 7.0: The classic Jordi Alba experience. He was a rock defensively, winning all of his tackles, and provided his usual outlet on the left. He also picked up his customary yellow card, just to remind everyone he's still got that fire. A typically reliable performance.

Noah Allen - 7.5: An excellent display from the defender. His passing was crisp and accurate, and he was a monster defensively, winning his tackles and reading the game well. He looked completely at home and was a key part of why the clean sheet was so comfortable.

Maximiliano Falcón - 7.5: Rock-solid at the back. He made several key interceptions and clearances to snuff out any hint of danger. He even got forward and had a header saved in the first half. A complete defensive performance that left the opposition with nothing.

Midfielders

Sergio Busquets - 8.5: A vintage performance. He was the conductor of the orchestra, controlling the game's tempo with effortless ease. His pass accuracy of 95% was astounding, and the through ball for Messi's first goal was simply world-class. He makes the game look so, so easy. It was a privilege to watch.

Rodrigo De Paul - 8.0: The engine of the team. He was everywhere, winning tackles, drawing fouls, and driving his team forward. He won the penalty with a clever run into the box. His work rate is infectious and he provided the perfect balance to Busquets' silk.

Baltasar Rodríguez - 7.5: Took his goal brilliantly. It was a cool, composed finish that broke the deadlock and set Miami on their way. He was a lively presence until he was substituted. What a crucial contribution, scoring the all-important first goal.

Mateo Silvetti - 6.5: A mixed bag. He missed a decent chance early on and got a yellow card for a rash foul. He showed flashes of what he can do but still looks a bit raw. A learning experience for him, for sure.

Forwards

Luis Suárez - 7.5: Got his goal from the penalty spot, dispatching it with his usual confidence. He linked up play intelligently and was a constant nuisance for the defenders, though he'll be disappointed he missed a big chance with a header. Still a lethal presence.

Lionel Messi - 9.5: What more can you say? The highest-rated player and an absolute masterclass. Two goals, one assist, and he was the architect of everything. He created five chances and had the NYCFC defense on strings all night. From our perspective, this was as close to a perfect 10 as you can get. The Man of the Match, and it wasn't even close.

Substitutes

Marcelo Weigandt, Tomás Avilés, Yannick Bright, Tadeo Allende - 7.5: The subs all played their part. Marcelo Weigandt came on and provided an assist for Messi's second goal. Tadeo Allende missed a sitter but looked lively. They helped maintain the intensity and see out a dominant win.

Manager

J. Mascherano - 8.5: His game plan was executed to perfection. He set his team up to dominate possession and exploit the spaces in the NYCFC defense. His players were motivated, clinical, and played with a swagger. A flawless away performance orchestrated by the manager.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Lionel Messi