Lionel Messi continued his remarkable scoring record against MLS leaders Nashville on Saturday, but Inter Miami had to settle for a 2-2 draw in an entertaining Eastern Conference showdown.

Messi put Inter Miami ahead in the 62nd minute at the club’s Nu Stadium, curling a superb effort into the net to make it 2-1. However, Nashville refused to give up and secured a point when striker Sam Surridge bundled home an equaliser deep into stoppage time.

The result extended Messi’s extraordinary record against Nashville, with the 39-year-old now having scored 17 goals in 14 appearances against them across all competitions since joining Inter Miami in 2023.

Messi could have added even more to his impressive goalscoring record against Nashville during Saturday’s meeting between the top two teams in the Eastern Conference.

The Inter Miami forward came close in the 50th minute when his effort struck the underside of the crossbar. He was denied again in the 78th minute as another shot rattled the post. Messi then had a late attempt cleared off the line by Nashville defender Jeisson Palacios before Sam Surridge struck the dramatic equaliser.

The draw leaves Inter Miami nine points behind Nashville in the battle for top seeding, with nine regular-season matches still to play.

Nashville had made the perfect start to the contest, taking the lead in just the fourth minute. English striker Sam Surridge beat the offside trap before calmly firing a low effort into the bottom corner.

Miami restored parity midway through the first half, with Messi once again at the heart of the move. The World Cup winner delivered a dangerous in-swinging corner that found Nashville defender Reed Baker-Whiting, who inadvertently glanced the ball into his own net.

It appeared Messi had secured the winner midway through the second half when he linked up with former Argentina international teammate Rodrigo De Paul just outside the penalty area. Messi then curled a superb effort beyond the outstretched reach of Brian Schwake to put Miami ahead.

However, Inter Miami’s inability to add a third goal came back to haunt them. Surridge pounced from close range deep into stoppage time, rescuing a valuable point for Nashville.