A 17-year-old American kid completely stole the show on Saturday evening, not just outplaying, but straight up *eclipsing* the greatest player of all-time. Fans flocked to Sports Illustrated Stadium hoping for a Lionel Messi masterclass. Instead, they got the Adri Mehmeti show, a stunning performance that saw the New York Red Bulls overwhelm Inter Miami 2-0. This wasn’t just a win, it was a massive three points in a tight MLS playoff race, and Mehmeti was absolutely central to it.
The Kid Who Shut Down a Legend
From the opening whistle, the Red Bulls pressed Inter Miami into oblivion. We’re talking absolute domination here. The Herons held 72 percent possession in the first 15 minutes, but get this, they played practically the *entire time* stuck in their own half, unable to get out of jail. It was a team effort, for sure, but Mehmeti’s influence in the midfield was just undeniable. He was everywhere. Red Bulls head coach Michael Bradley nailed it, saying, “We understand the responsibility that, on certain nights, when certain teams come here with certain players, the spotlights come on a little brighter. That’s our chance to show we have a pretty good team too.” And boy, did they ever show it.
Messi himself, fresh off accepting the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports in Spain just two days prior, didn’t even start the match. As Inter Miami floundered through the first half and into the second, the crowd was chanting his name, begging for their Argentine legend to come save the day. He finally came on just past the hour mark, to massive cheers and elation, the loudest the crowd was all evening. But even with Messi on the pitch, he was ineffective. Mehmeti and the Red Bulls hemmed him in, leaving him stranded on an island with basically zero help. This wasn’t Messi having an off night, this was Mehmeti taking him out of the game.
Unbelievable Maturity, Unstoppable Vision
Mehmeti, playing alongside Ghanan international Mohammed Sofo in a dual No. 8 role, shined bright for the entire match. The kid led the Red Bulls with an incredible 82 touches and 55 accurate passes in his 85 minutes on the field. He kept Inter Miami’s possession right in front of him, suffocating their attack every single time. Sofo, his midfield partner, was practically speechless when talking about Mehmeti. “What else can I say,” Sofo remarked. “I mean, when you look at the quality he has, especially his age also, it’s unbelievable.” Sofo believes their connection has been amazing since he switched to the No. 8 position, adding, “I just hope we can play more games together.”
The veteran could not stop raving about the young American. “The maturity he has is unbelievable,” Sofo said. “The vision he has, he knows when to play forward, when to calm down. Sometimes he does things I’m like ‘wow.’ For me, as a No. 8 or also as a No. 10, I try to find myself in the pockets, and sometimes he finds me with just two touches. Other players need to take a first touch, look for it, and then play it. But for him, he can just…second touch, he finds you.” This was the ultimate display of Mehmeti’s passing, positioning, range, ball-stopping, and relentless pressing, all coming together to completely boss the match. The guy was toying with a World Cup winner, Rodrigo De Paul, out there.
It’s only a matter of time until Adri Mehmeti is getting a real run with the USMNT. He’s only 17, and he’s already making the biggest name in soccer disappear. The MLS playoff race just got a whole lot more interesting, and everyone needs to start paying attention to what this kid is doing.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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