Fort Lauderdale, Florida – Lionel Messi continued his scintillating form in Major League Soccer (MLS), scoring twice and assisting once to lead Inter Miami CF to a 3-2 victory over DC United at Chase Stadium on Saturday night.
Messi’s 21st and 22nd goals of the season put him at the top of the MLS scoring charts, surpassing Nashville’s Sam Surridge, while his 12th assist highlighted his all-around influence.
Tadeo Allende opened the scoring for Miami, giving the Herons an early advantage. DC United responded through Christian Benteke, who not only equalized but also provided an assist for the team’s attack. Substitute Jacob Murrell added a late consolation goal for DC, but Messi’s second-half brace had already secured the win for Miami.
The decisive goals came with moments of brilliance from Messi and his teammates. Jordi Alba played a perfectly timed pass that found Messi, who executed a composed finish despite being closely marked. Later in the match, Sergio Busquets set up Messi for a solo effort, where the Argentine dribbled past a defender before finishing from outside the box.
Miami also had opportunities to extend their lead further, including a penalty by Mateo Silvetti that struck the crossbar.
The win lifted Inter Miami into fifth place in the Eastern Conference, keeping them eight points behind Eastern leaders Philadelphia, with three matches still in hand. This marked the first time since early July that Miami achieved back-to-back victories, highlighting their growing momentum in the league.
DC United, now under the guidance of incoming manager Rene Weiler, suffered their first loss in five matches, leaving them with a record of 5-16-10 (25 points).
Messi’s performance underscores his continued dominance in MLS since joining Inter Miami. Beyond goals, his playmaking, vision, and ability to influence the game in critical moments have made him indispensable to the Herons’ title ambitions.
Analysts noted that Messi could have achieved a hat-trick on another night, given his constant threat to DC United goalkeeper Luis Barraza.
With just a few matches left in the MLS season, Messi and Inter Miami aim to climb higher in the standings, keeping their playoff hopes alive. Fans are now closely watching whether Messi can maintain his scoring streak and continue to break records in the North American league.
