Messi signs off for Copa with goal in 3-3 draw

Source: ESPN.com

Miami (10-3-5, 35 points) took a two-point lead atop the Eastern Conference standings and in MLS overall, ahead of second-place Cincinnati (10-3-3, 33 points), which did not play Saturday.

Suárez and Messi are now tied for the team lead in goals, and are one shy of the MLS lead behind Cristian Arango of Real Salt Lake and Christian Benteke of D.C. United, who both have 13. Messi's 12 have come in four fewer games than Arango (16 games) and three fewer than Benteke.

Chris Durkin and former Inter Miami player Indiana Vassilev scored in the first half for St. Louis. Suárez had an own goal in the 69th minute that looked to seal the win for St. Louis until Alba tapped in a goal that was originally called back for offside, but overturned after video review.

Messi dribbled seamlessly through St. Louis defenders in the first half and sent a pass to Alba, who fired it back to Messi for a shot that tied it at 1 early on.

Messi exited the field to cheers.

Messi will join Argentina next week on a quest to defend the Copa America title it won in 2021, when the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner tearfully lifted his first major trophy for his national team, filling in one of the biggest gaps in his decorated career.

Messi -- and potentially Suárez, who could represent Uruguay -- could miss at least five Inter Miami matches during the tournament. Copa America runs from June 20 through July 14. And after Copa, Inter Miami could lose players again when national teams call for the Paris Olympics, which run from July 26 to August 11.

The next month without Messi and potentially other stars will be important if Miami hopes to remain atop the standings. Cincinnati missed a chance to take over first place when it lost to Nashville SC on Wednesday, snapping a seven-game win streak that started April 20. Inter Miami plays at Cincinnati on July 6.