MIAMI (AP) — Lionel Messi scored his MLS-leading 19th goal of the season as Inter Miami played first-place Nashville to a 2-2 tie on Saturday night.
Messi appeared to have Miami on its way to its first win over Nashville this season when he scored with a left-footed shot to make it 2-1 in the 62nd. Nashville's Sam Surridge equalized with his second goal of the night just a minute into stoppage time to keep his club unbeaten in four meetings with Miami this season.
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Inter Miami defender Fricio Caicedo (15) defends Nashville forward Sam Surridge (9) during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Inter Miami players celebrate Nashville's own goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Nashville forward Sam Surridge hits the ball to score during the first half of an MLS soccer match against the Inter Miami Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Nashville midfielder Patrick Yazbek (8) and defender Reed Baker-Whiting (27) defend Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) during the second half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) celebrates after scoring a goal during the second half of an MLS soccer match against the Nashville Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
The draw also kept Nashville nine points ahead of second-place Miami in the Eastern Conference standings.
Nashville struck just four minutes into the match when Surridge finished Andy Najar’s pass for his 14th goal of the season.
The score was evened in the 19th when Nashville defender Reed Baker-Whiting scored an own goal on a corner kick.
Messi had a shot blocked from outside the box in the 27th minute and sent a free kick wide shortly afterward before breaking through in the second half.
Rodrigo De Paul found Messi outside the penalty area, and the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner sent a left-footed shot into the bottom-left corner for his 19th MLS goal of the season.
Miami was looking to avenge a 4-1 loss to Nashville in the teams’ previous meeting on Aug. 15. Nashville also eliminated Miami from the Concacaf Champions Cup earlier this season.
Nashville: Hosts the Chicago Fire next Saturday.
Inter Miami: Hosts Liga MX champion Cruz Azul on Wednesday in the Campeones Cup.
See AP’s full soccer coverage here
Inter Miami defender Fricio Caicedo (15) defends Nashville forward Sam Surridge (9) during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Inter Miami players celebrate Nashville's own goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Nashville forward Sam Surridge hits the ball to score during the first half of an MLS soccer match against the Inter Miami Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Nashville midfielder Patrick Yazbek (8) and defender Reed Baker-Whiting (27) defend Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) during the second half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) celebrates after scoring a goal during the second half of an MLS soccer match against the Nashville Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
BERLIN (AP) — Breanna Stewart was part of the U.S. Olympic team that beat France by one point in Paris two years ago.
The U.S. captain feels that victory has no barring on the rematch Sunday for the women's FIBA World Cup title.
“This is a completely new game and everybody has their own things that continue to motivate them,” Stewart said after the U.S. topped Spain 76-66 in a semifinal Saturday. “I think that what I will continue to be preaching to this team is ‘we’re going to turn the page on everything.’ This is one game to win the the gold medal at the World Cup in Berlin and that’s our entire focus.”
It's easy for Stewart to say that as more than half the U.S. roster in the World Cup wasn't on that Olympic team. Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers are playing for their first championship with the national team. Stewart's already won three World Cup titles since making her debut in 2014.
Kahleah Copper was a huge reason the U.S. was able to beat France two years ago. She had 12 points in that game.
“I mean, they’re a different team, we’re a different team,” she said. “Two great teams gonna go at it head-to-head.”
The Americans have looked far from the team that has dominated the World Cup during this historic run of 35 consecutive victories and four straight championships. A three-point win over Italy in pool play was the closest a team has come to the Americans in group stage in 50 years. The 10-point victory over Spain was the closest semifinal contest during this remarkable streak. The Americans had been winning by an average of 26 points over the past four medal-round games.
“It’s literally about us. Everything that we do is going to dictate what happens in tomorrow’s game and making sure that that’s the main focus as we continue to look inward,” Stewart said. “Whether that’s lifting a teammate up or high fiving them or telling them shoot the next shot. There's going to be a ton of emotions in this game. It’s going to be the team that really kind of regulates that and handles that best that will have the advantage.”
French players are also downplaying the significance of that Olympic contest.
“That was two years ago,” Janelle Salaün said of the defeat. “There were different people involved, different players, so now we’re focusing on tomorrow and the here and now.”
Marine Johannes knows about the tall task the French have in front of them.
“If I’m (being) honest we have nothing to lose,” she said. “We actually know they are a great team. They won every World Cup for years and years. We are playing with these players all season in WNBA actually. We know how good they are. It’s one game, nothing to lose. We are going to play hard and we’ll see what happens.”
No matter what happens on Sunday, France is set for its best World Cup finish ever. The French team hasn't won a medal since the inaugural tournament in 1953, when the team finished third in the final round.
“It means a lot. This is the first time we’re taking it to this level,” France coach Jean-Aimé Toupane said after the semifinal win over Germany. “You guys can see how French basketball all around the world is improving.”
France winning a gold medal would be a seismic shift in the sport's landscape. The Americans have only lost once in the championships game, falling to the Soviet Union in 1983. They are 8-0 since.
“We didn’t come all this way for nothing – we’re here to win," France's Leila Lacan said. "We won’t settle for the silver medal, we’re going to go and get that gold.”
See AP’s full WNBA coverage here
France's Marine Johannes, left, and Pauline Astier hug after the Women's Basketball World Cup semifinal match between France and Germany in Berlin, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Paige Bueckers, of the United States, gets a rebound during the Women's Basketball World Cup semifinal match between the United States and Spain in Berlin, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Angel Reese, of the United States, reacts during the Women's Basketball World Cup semifinal match between the United States and Spain in Berlin, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
French players celebrate after the Women's Basketball World Cup semifinal match between France and Germany in Berlin, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
during the Women's Basketball World Cup semifinal match between the United States and Spain in Berlin, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
