Messi netted with a brilliant, low strike from the edge of the area to drag Miami level in the 67th minute at Chase Stadium.

His equaliser came 10 minutes after Karol Swiderski had diverted in Brandt Bronico's effort to give Dean Smith's Charlotte an unlikely lead.

Miami thought it had a penalty just after Messi's equaliser, but after consulting with VAR, referee Ramy Touchan amended his decision to award a spot-kick for a foul on Diego Gomez, with that call also sparing Adilson Malanda from receiving a second yellow card.

Charlotte substitute Patrick Agyemang had a goal disallowed for offside as the frantic pace continued, but the best opportunity for a winner fell to Miami star Luis Suarez, only for the former Barcelona and Liverpool forward to slice over from point-blank range.

The draw leaves Miami needing to win all three of its remaining regular-season matches to break the single-season MLS points record of 73, which was set by New England Revolution in 2021.

Charlotte, meanwhile, is not sure of its place in the play-offs just yet.

Elsewhere, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls, Orlando City, Houston Dynamo, Los Angeles FC and Seattle Sounders all clinched their play-off berths.