Lionel Messi opened the scoring for Inter Miami with a second‑half brace that pushed his tally to 25, the most in Major League Soccer, as the club defeated Atlanta United 3‑1 at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium on Saturday. After a 1‑0 lead from Germán Berterame at the break, the Argentine produced two solo goals in quick succession, turning a modest win into a statement of his continuing dominance in the league.
The first of Messi’s goals came in the 56th minute. He cut down from the right wing, met Berterame on the edge of the penalty area, then slipped past a desperate Atlanta defender before slotting a low shot past goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos. A few minutes later, a breakaway opportunity presented itself when Luis Suárez sent the forward free. Messi again outmaneuvered the defender, finished with his left foot, and sent the ball into the bottom corner. Atlanta’s only reply came late in the game when former Miami striker Fafà Picault converted a penalty, but the visitors’ lead was unassailable.
With the win, Messi now leads the race for the MLS Golden Boot by six goals and shares the league’s most assists (15) with Son Heung‑Min of LAFC. He is the first player in MLS history to record 15 assists in three consecutive seasons and has contributed in 13 straight matches, matching the second‑longest streak of his career. The victory also gave Messi another memorable outing at Atlanta, his first visit there since the 2026 World Cup semifinal when he helped Argentina beat England with two late assists.
Inter Miami, who secured a playoff berth earlier this week, have won three straight games under new head coach Cristian “Kily” González and sit second in the Eastern Conference, just behind Nashville. Atlanta, coached by former Messi mentor Gerardo “Tata” Martino, languish in 14th place and face a difficult path to postseason qualification. Inter Miami will travel to New York to face the Red Bulls next Saturday as they continue their push for a deep playoff run.