Lionel Messi escaped a red card despite seemingly launching a foul-mouthed rant after Inter Miami's 1-1 draw with Charlotte FC.

After going two games without a goal, the Inter Miami star got back on the scoresheet in Saturday's MLS clash at Chase Stadium.

Messi produced a superb strike to cancel out Karol Swiderski's opener, picking out the bottom corner with a driven strike from outside the box.

Inter Miami went close to netting a late winner in Fort Lauderdale when Jordi Alba headed the ball back across goal from Messi's lofted delivery.

Alba's knockdown found his former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez, who lifted the ball over the crossbar before rolling on the ground following a collision with Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina.

MESSI. BANGER. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/84VIwmBOF3

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 29, 2024

Messi swears at referee following Charlotte draw

Messi and his Inter Miami teammates felt Kahlina had fouled Suarez and that they should have been awarded a stoppage-time penalty.

The Argentine was left furious by the decision not to award a spot-kick and approached the referee after the match.

According to Ole, via Mundo Deportivo, Messi told the referee: "You're a mean-spirited son of a b****."

Messi escaped a red card for the incident and was instead shown a yellow card for just the second time in the MLS season.

© Imago

When will Messi next be in action?

Messi may have been left frustrated by a third consecutive draw, but his team remain top of the Eastern Conference with 65 points to their name after 31 matches.

They still have the chance to clinch the Supporters' Shield in their next outing, and they can still break the MLS points record if they win their final three matches of the regular season.

Tata Martino's side will be back in action in midweek when they Lower.com Field for Wednesday's meeting with Columbus Crew.

Messi, who recently returned from injury, will look to continue his impressive campaign, having scored 15 goals and provided 10 assists in 16 MLS matches.