Two second-half goals in four minutes lift his MLS tally to 25 and his career total to 936.
Lionel Messi scored twice in four minutes after the break as Inter Miami beat Atlanta United 3-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday. The brace took his MLS-leading tally to 25 and his career total to 936.
Mexico striker Germán Berterame had put Miami ahead in the 45th minute, with assists from Messi and Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez. Messi then took over. In the 56th minute he drove infield from the right wing, swapped passes with Berterame on the edge of the box, danced past a defender and fired low into the net. In the 60th minute Suárez sent him through on a breakaway, and Messi beat Atlanta goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos with his left foot. It was his first visit to the stadium since the 2026 World Cup semifinal in July, when he provided two late assists as Argentina beat England.
Miami coach Cristian "Kily" González said of Messi afterward: "He never ceases to amaze the world." He went on: "I mean, I honestly can't believe that a guy like him, at 39 years old, is doing what he's doing."
González also said what he sees of Messi in training:
"He dazzles me with every single action, every time I see him in training."
Messi was credited with a secondary assist on Berterame's opener, which leveled him with LAFC's Son Heung-Min on 15 assists, the most in MLS. He is also the first player in MLS history to record 15 assists in three consecutive seasons. He has now had a goal contribution in 13 straight matches, tying his second-longest such run with club and country.
Atlanta, under Gerardo "Tata" Martino, who was Messi's coach at Miami and Argentina, pulled a goal back in the 89th minute. Former Miami forward Fafà Picault converted the penalty. Atlanta sit 14th of 15 in the Eastern Conference with 30 points and face a difficult climb to the playoffs.
Miami's third straight win leaves them second in the Eastern Conference on 55 points, 11 behind runaway leader Nashville SC. They clinched a playoff place on Wednesday. Messi has four goals in three games since he bid farewell to Argentina in a friendly against Benin earlier this month.
With 936 career goals, Messi is 64 short of 1,000. González believes he will get there. "Yes, I believe he'll reach 1,000 goals," González said. "I have faith in that."
Miami visit the New York Red Bulls next Saturday.
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