Messi scores twice, takes season tally to 25 in Miami win at Atlanta

Lionel Messi scored two trademark second-half solo goals to take his MLS-leading tally to 25 as Inter Miami brushed aside hosts Atlanta United 3-1 on Saturday. After Mexico striker Germán Berterame put Miami ahead on the stroke of halftime, Messi took center stage after the restart with two goals in four minutes. The first, in the 56th minute, came after Messi drove infield from the right wing, exchanged passes with Berterame on the edge off the penalty area before dancing past a desperate Atlanta defender and firing low into the net. His second was more of the same. This time Luis Suárez sent him free on a breakaway and the Argentine forward again bewitched a hapless defender before once more beating Atlanta goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos with his left foot. Atlanta got a late consolation goal through a penalty from former Miami forward Fafà Picault. At fulltime of Saturday's game, Messi had a six-goal lead in the race for MLS' Golden Boot and also had the joint-most assists (15), along with LAFC's Son Heung-Min, having been credited with a secondary assist on Berterame's opener. Messi is the first player in MLS history to register 15 assists in three consecutive seasons. He now has a goal contribution in 13 straight matches, tying his second-longest streak with club and country in his career. Messi's performance Saturday gave the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner another fond memory at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The game marked Messi's first visit there since the 2026 World Cup semifinal in July, when the 39-year-old provided two late assists to propel Argentina to a dramatic win over England. Messi has four goals in three games since he bid farewell to the Argentina national team in a friendly against Benin earlier this month. Miami, which clinched a spot in the playoffs in midweek, has won three straight games under new coach Cristian "Kily" González and is second in the Eastern Conference behind runaway leader Nashville. Atlanta, under Messi's former coach with Miami and Argentina, Gerardo "Tata" Martino, are languishing down in 14th spot in the Eastern Conference and facing an uphill battle to make the postseason. Miami return to action with a visit to the New York Red Bulls next Saturday.