🔬 The Debrief as Messi returns to headline Sunday action across MLS | OneFootball

Week four of the 2025 MLS season is now officially in the books after yet another 48 hours of entertaining football across the North American top flight.

From world-class goals to undefeated runs, penalty controversy, and shock conference leaders, here is how all the action on Sunday broke down during the remaining three matches this weekend.

What happened

Philadelphia Union were unable to make it four wins from four to continue their hot start in 2025 after being checked at home to the tune of a 3-1 loss against visiting Nashville, with goals from Sam Surridge, Ahmed Qasem, and Hany Mukhtar guaranteeing all three for the visitors.

Despite a stunning strike from Serbian midfielder Jovan Lukić to temporarily level matters at one-all, Bradley Carnell's struggled to make their chances in front of goal count for more, with a pair of controversial penalty decisions by match official Pierre Luc Lauziere ultimately highlighting the clash along the Delaware River.

A late double-save by veteran Nashville shot-stopper Joe Willis after denying Quinn Sullivan from the penalty spot was the best summation of the Union's luck in front of goal.

It was honors even at Providence Park as the Portland Timbers were, much like the Union, dealt a controversial non-penalty call in the dying embers of their 1-1 clash with La Galaxy.

Phil Neville's troops were first on the scoresheet in front of home support when they broke the deadlock four minutes after the interval when new addition Danny Da Costa turned provider for Felipe Mora. That lead would not stand the test of time, however, with Christian Ramirez bagging a striker's finish to level matters nine minutes before the end of normal time.

Fans and players alike were left stunned four minutes into stoppage time when substitute Cristhian Paredes was taken out in the box by a two-footed challenge from Carlos Garces, leaving Neville incandescent on the sideline after a penalty was not awarded.

Sunday Night Soccer gifted fans with an action-packed night in peach country when Lionel Messi's Inter Miami went to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, coming away with a 2-1 win against growing rivals Atlanta United.

An early opener from Ivorian hitman Emmanuel Latte Lath set the hosts off on the right foot, but it would ultimately be a night of revenge for Messi after his sublime equalizer was added to by an 88th-minute match-winning header by Fabrice Picault.

Despite the narrow margin on the scoresheet, the two Eastern Conference sides produced one of the most entertaining matches in the early doors of the 2025 season, with their next meeting likely to offer much of the same.

Player of the day 🥇

It has to be Messi for this one, with few players ahead of the Argentine when it comes to exacting revenge.

Despite his world-class goal, the diminutive trickster registered a combined xG+xA of 2.02, completing 3 out of his 5 dribbles and 12 passes into the final third, while also winning 7/11 duels.

He may be behind the curve this season, but it won't take him long to get up to speed.

Stat of the day 📊

It may have been an infuriating afternoon at Providence Park for Phil Neville and the Portland Timbers, but striker Felipe Mora's goal was something the Chilean international can write home about after continuing his climb up the club's all-time goalscoring list.

What this means 🤔

Inter Miami's successful mini-revenge tour means Javier Mascherano and The Herons now top the Eastern Conference. A position where they feel they belong.

Atlanta's poor start to 2025 sees them sitting in 12th after four weeks of action.

Philadelphia Union falls to second on the back of Inter Miami's three-point haul, while Nashville's second successive win has them up to fifth in the table.

In the Western Conference, LA Galaxy still props up the table despite earning their first point of a horrific start to their campaign in Southern California, while Portland Timbers are already well behind the pace in 12th.

What comes next

Despite the upcoming international break, MLS action continues next weekend, headlined by an intriguing matchup featuring the league's best defense as Olof Mellberg's St. Louis City locking horns with Tai Baribo and the high-scoring Philadelphia Union.

📸 Photo Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images