When people searched “New York City FC vs Inter Miami” before the Eastern Conference Final, almost everyone expected Lionel Messi to dominate the story. Instead, a 26-year-old Argentine winger on loan from Celta Vigo stole the show. Tadeo Allende’s hat trick in Inter Miami’s 5–1 win over NYCFC not only tied the MLS record for goals in a single postseason, it gave Messi a true co-star and reshaped what Inter Miami’s future could look like once the Messi era is over.
Setting the stage: New York City FC vs Inter Miami in the East Final
The Eastern Conference Final at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale delivered exactly what the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs were built for: high stakes, high drama and star power.
Inter Miami, led by Messi, came in on a dominant run, having crushed FC Cincinnati in the semifinals. New York City FC arrived as one of the surprise stories of the postseason, riding a young squad and back-to-back road wins. But they were also shorthanded, missing top scorer Alonso Martínez and midfielder Andrés Perea through injury.
On the night, Miami ran away with a 5–1 victory:
- Tadeo Allende (14′, 23′, 89′)
- Mateo Silvetti (67′)
- Telasco Segovia (87′)
- Justin Haak (37′) for NYCFC
For the box score, it was a rout. For Allende, it was a career-defining night.
Allende’s hat trick: stepping out of Messi’s shadow
Allende struck first in the 14th minute, timing his run perfectly to latch onto a chipped ball in behind and finishing calmly past Matt Freese. Nine minutes later, he doubled the lead with a near-post header, punishing NYCFC’s back line for a second time.
New York City briefly clawed back into the match with Haak’s header, but as the second half wore on, Miami’s stars took control. After Silvetti and Segovia pushed the score to 4–1, Allende finished his hat trick in the 89th minute with a deft chip, capping a complete performance.
That third goal wasn’t just cosmetic. It pushed Allende to eight goals in the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, tying Carlos Ruiz’s record for most goals in a single MLS postseason set with LA Galaxy in 2002.
In a game the world expected Messi to own, Allende did the heaviest lifting on the scoresheet.
How Allende changes the way teams defend Inter Miami
Since Messi arrived, opponents have built their game plans around one idea: crowd Messi, shrink his space and dare someone else to beat them.
New York City FC tried a version of that approach in the East Final, compressing the middle and reacting aggressively whenever Messi received between the lines. On paper, it made sense; Messi had six goals and six assists in just four playoff games before the final.
Allende blew that plan up. Whenever Messi drifted deeper to receive, Allende attacked the space behind NYCFC’s back four. When Jordi Alba pushed high, Allende tucked inside and became a second striker. Late in the game, with New York chasing and lines stretched, he still had the speed and confidence to race through and finish.
From now on, coaches preparing for another “New York City FC vs Inter Miami” type matchup have a different puzzle. If they overload Messi’s zone, Allende can punish them with runs in behind. If they sit deeper to track Allende, Messi gets more time and angles to pick passes. Inter Miami are no longer a one-focus defensive game plan.
What Allende’s breakout means for Inter Miami’s future
A second elite match-winner
In the short term, Allende’s form makes Inter Miami far more dangerous going into MLS Cup. Messi is still the primary creator and leader, but there is now a second elite finisher opponents must respect. That spreads responsibility in the biggest matches and reduces the pressure on a 38-year-old superstar to decide every knockout game by himself.
In the medium and long term, his emergence gives the club something they did not fully have before: a realistic attacking anchor for the post-Messi years. With a strong regular season and a record-tying playoff run, Allende has shown he can carry a big workload in MLS, produce in high-pressure games and fit next to top-level talent. If Inter Miami can keep him beyond his loan, he instantly becomes one of the key pieces of whatever comes next.
More options for Javier Mascherano
Head coach Javier Mascherano now has a front line that fits together naturally: Allende and Mateo Silvetti providing pace and vertical runs, Messi floating between the lines, and Alba adding width and service from left back.Mascherano can rotate Luis Suárez and other veterans without losing a vertical threat, and he can adjust Allende’s starting position based on where the opposition is weakest.
Leverage in the transfer market
Off the field, this kind of breakout gives Inter Miami leverage. A loan player arriving from Europe, tying an MLS postseason scoring record next to Messi and pushing the club to its first MLS Cup is a powerful story. Even if Allende eventually returns to Celta or moves elsewhere, his success reinforces the idea that Miami is a place where ambitious players can get minutes, produce and be seen.
Mini player ratings: Allende and the key figures
Tadeo Allende – 9.5/10
Hat trick in a conference final, eight goals this postseason to tie the MLS record, constant vertical threat from first whistle to last. Clear Man of the Match.
Lionel Messi – 8/10
One assist, heavy involvement in the build-up and constant gravity that dragged NYCFC’s shape around. Even without scoring, he controlled tempo and created the platform for Allende to shine.
Jordi Alba – 8.5/10
Relentless on the left side, adding multiple assists and secondary passes leading to chances. His understanding with both Messi and Allende made Miami’s left flank almost impossible to defend.
Justin Haak – 7/10
NYCFC’s lone scorer and one of their few bright spots. His goal briefly made it a contest and underlined the mentality that carried New York to the East Final.
Conclusion: a new chapter for Miami’s star power
The headline from “New York City FC vs Inter Miami” will always be the 5–1 score and Inter Miami’s first trip to the MLS Cup. But the bigger picture is about how that result happened.
Messi is still the main architect of everything Miami does. Yet in the biggest game of their MLS era so far, it was Tadeo Allende who delivered the defining performance. His hat trick didn’t just end NYCFC’s season; it announced that Inter Miami’s future may be shaped by a player who, until this year, was just another name on a LaLiga squad list.
For a club built on superstar power, discovering that kind of new, in-house star might be the most important win of all.
