Messi hit the five-card ban line, but a little-known MLS rule kept him on the pitch.
Messi argued with referee Armando Villarreal and earned his fifth yellow of the season.
In MLS, five yellow cards bring a $250 fine and an automatic one-match suspension.
MLS erases one yellow card after five straight games with no cards at all.
Messi completed the clean run twice this season, so two of his five cards no longer count.
Referees showed him five yellows, but only three count toward a suspension.
Messi has used two of his three chances. One remains for the rest of the season.
Miami sat third, two points behind New England. The game was a fight for second.
Both clubs had reached the playoffs, but a higher finish means better seeding.
Messi leads the league scoring charts and is chasing another Golden Boot.
His tally is three. Two more yellows would finally trigger the one-match suspension.
Tap below to read why Messi escaped the ban and what comes next for Inter Miami.
Get the full breakdown, key numbers, and what happens next.
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