Lionel Messi tried to be savvy and cheeky on an early penalty kick against the reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. It proved to be costly for Inter Miami, and the floodgates opened for their opponents.

Idan Toklomati secured the first hat trick of his career (34’, 49’ and 84’) to help Charlotte FC beat visiting Inter Miami, 3-0, and tie the MLS record with their ninth consecutive victory on Saturday, Sept. 13.

“Clearly, it wasn't one of our best nights,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said. “They hit us at very, very crucial moments where they hurt us a lot, and we couldn't get back up.”

Messi played spry and energetic, fresh from nine days off following the final World Cup qualifying match of his career played in Argentina, where he scored two goals in a 3-1 win against Venezuela on Sept. 4.

The Argentine World Cup champion had a chance to give Inter Miami an early lead with a penalty shot in the 32nd minute, but he softly lofted his shot toward the upper left corner of the net.

Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina wasn’t fooled. The miss energized Charlotte’s sellout crowd of 35,000 fans filling the lower bowl at Bank of America Stadium.

“Clearly, if there's anyone who has helped us win throughout the season, it's Leo. There was that unfortunate play,” Mascherano said of Messi.

Inter Miami, uniquely the only MLS club not to be awarded a penalty this season through 25 matches, had the best player in the world unable to seize the opportunity.

Two minutes later, Charlotte seized a lead they never relinquished as Toklomati finished a cross from the outside by Kerwin Vargas to send the home crowd into a frenzy in the 34th minute.

Two minutes into the second half, Toklomati scored again, providing the finish to a sequence started by Wilfried Zaha and assisted by Brandt Bronico in the 47th minute.

Toklomati finished with a penalty kick in the 84th minute, blowing a kiss before hugging Zaha, Charlotte's captain. Zaha was fouled by Sergio Busquets in the penalty area, but allowed the 21-year-old striker to secure the hat trick.

Messi, the reigning MLS MVP, still leads the league with 29 goal contributions, including 19 goals, which ranks second in the league behind Nashville’s Sam Surridge. But he was unable to find the back of the net in Charlotte despite his prime opportunity.

Inter Miami played without 38-year-old Luis Suarez for the first time this season. The Uruguayan striker served the first of his three-match MLS suspension for spitting on a Seattle Sounders staffer, following the Leagues Cup final. It was the club’s first match since that 3-0 defeat in Seattle on Aug. 31.

Charlotte tied Seattle (2018) for the longest single-season win streak in MLS history, excluding the shootout era, with the victory. Charlotte is third in the Eastern Conference with 53 points behind Philadelphia and Cincinnati.

Inter Miami has fallen to seventh in the East after the defeat, which started a stretch of seven matches in 22 days. They will host the Sounders in their next match on Sept. 16.

“I'm sure that the team – without going crazy, without pointing fingers, simply knowing that we have to accept the moment and correct the things we need to correct – will get through this, and finish the regular season in the best possible way,” Mascherano said.

Charlotte vs. Inter Miami highlights

Charlotte 3, Inter Miami 0: Idan Toklomati scores again for hat trick

Idan Toklomati blew a kiss to Charlotte captain Wilfred Zaha for allowing him to take the penalty kick, and secure the first hat trick of his MLS career. Zaha was tripped by Inter Miami’s Sergio Busquets in the 83rd minute, and the door is slammed shut on this one after Toklomati's third goal in the 84th minute.

Charlotte 2, Inter Miami 0: Kahlina saves another shot

Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina still has a clean sheet after blocking a shot by Inter Miami’s Tadeo Allende in the 72nd minute. Rodrigo De Paul also missed his follow-up shot in the sequence, one of the few Inter Miami had near the net in the second half.

Charlotte 2, Inter Miami 0: Idan Toklomati scores second goal

Charlotte has doubled their lead just minutes into the second half. Idan Toklomati has a brace, scoring a goal in the 49th minute, finishing a stellar sequence by Charlotte to take a 2-0 lead against Messi and Inter Miami.

Charlotte 1, Inter Miami 0: Idan Toklomati scores goal

Just minutes after Messi missed a penalty shot, Charlotte has taken the lead with a goal from Idan Toklomati in the 34th minute.

Inter Miami 0, Charlotte 0: Messi misses penalty shot in 32’

Messi failed to score a penalty goal in the 32nd minute, his chip shot blocked by Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina. Messi had a chance in the penalty area, and was bumped by Charlotte defender Djibril Diani in the 30th minute. The penalty was confirmed after VAR. Inter Miami was the only team in MLS to not earn a penalty attempt this season through 25 games, before the penalty was granted.

Inter Miami 0, Charlotte 0: Jordi Alba’s shot saved by Kristijan Kahlina

Jordi Alba’s left boot was saved by Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina in the 6th minute. The sequence was initiated by a through pass from Messi up the pitch, and a cross from Tadeo Allende to Alba for Inter Miami’s first shot on goal in the match.

Is Messi playing today?

Messi traveled to Charlotte and is expected to play. He was announced as a starter in the Inter Miami starting lineup before the match.

What time is Charlotte vs. Inter Miami match?

The match begins at 7:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. in Argentina).

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How to watch Charlotte vs. Inter Miami match?

The match will be available to live stream on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.

Charlotte vs. Inter Miami betting odds

Here are the betting odds, according to BetMGM.

  • Charlotte: +160
  • Draw: +270
  • Inter Miami: +135
  • Over/under: 3.5 goals

What to know about Charlotte and Inter Miami

Inter Miami will begin a stretch of seven matches in the next 22 days. They’ll also be without Luis Suarez, who will miss his first match in a three-game MLS suspension after spitting on a Seattle staff member after the Leagues Cup loss. Suarez was also issued a six-match Leagues Cup suspension for the incident.

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Charlotte has not lost a match at home since May 24, and has not lost an MLS match since June 28 against the Chicago Fire. However, coach Dean Smith will miss the match due to suspension for yellow card accumulation.

Charlotte is third in the MLS Eastern Conference standings with 50 points from 29 matches this season, while Inter Miami is sixth with 46 points in 25 matches. Inter Miami has four matches in hand to play after participating in the Club World Cup and Leagues Cup.

Here’s the latest on Messi

Messi returns to MLS play after a nine-day layoff. He recently played the last World Cup qualifier of his career in Argentina, where he scored two goals in a 3-1 win against Venezuela on Sept. 4. He recently recovered from a right hamstring injury last month.

“He was able to train with us all week. He trained well, so he'll be ready for [Saturday],” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said of Messi before Friday’s practice.

Will Messi play in 2026 World Cup?

Messi has yet to declare whether he will play in the World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer. But he did offer some insight after the Argentina match earlier this month.

“Because of my age, the most logical thing is that I won’t make it. But well, we’re almost there so I’m excited and motivated to play it,” Messi said on Sept. 4.

“Like I always say, I go day by day, match by match. That’s it taking it day by day, going by how I feel. Day by day, trying to feel good and above all, being honest with myself,” Messi added.

“When I feel good, I enjoy it. But when I don’t, honestly, I don’t have a good time, so I prefer not to be there if I don't feel good. So, we’ll see. I haven’t made a decision about the World Cup.”

Messi added: “Match by match, I’ll finish the season, then I’ll have preseason, and there will be six months left. So, we’ll see how I feel. Hopefully I’ll have a good preseason in 2026, and finish this MLS season well, and then I'll decide.”

Messi’s upcoming schedule with Inter Miami

  • Sept. 13: Charlotte FC vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. (MLS regular season)
  • Sept. 16: Inter Miami vs. Seattle Sounders, 7:30 p.m. (MLS regular season)
  • Sept. 20: Inter Miami vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m. (MLS regular season)
  • Sept. 24: New York City FC vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. (MLS regular season)
  • Sept. 27: Toronto FC vs. Inter Miami, 4:30 p.m. (MLS regular season)
  • Sept. 30: Inter Miami vs. Chicago Fire, 7:30 p.m. (MLS regular season)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Messi penalty miss leads to Idan Toklomati hat trick: Charlotte vs Inter Miami highlights

Reporting by Safid Deen, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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