Messi's brilliant brace powers Inter Miami past Atlanta United 3-1

Lionel Messi returned to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the venue where this summer he provided the decisive assist in Argentina's World Cup semifinal win over England, and turned the arena into his personal stage once again. With two goals of Maradona-like brilliance, the Inter Miami captain powered the Herons to a 3-1 victory over Atlanta United, taking his MLS tally to 25 goals and tightening his hold on the league's scoring title.

• Messi scored twice in four minutes to put the match out of Atlanta's reach.
• Inter Miami secured a third straight win and moved to second in the East with 55 points.
• Germán Berterame opened the scoring just before halftime with a header from a Luis Suárez cross.
• Dayne St. Clair's key save on Miguel Almirón kept Miami ahead before Messi's attacking display.
• Fafa Picault converted a late penalty to give Atlanta a consolation goal in the 89th minute.

Messi's two Maradona-style goals secure the win

The Argentine superstar took over when the match needed a defining moment. In the 56th minute, Messi launched a run from the halfway line, exchanged passes with Germán Berterame, and left multiple opponents behind—even stepping around his own teammate—before finishing with his left foot. The sequence echoed Diego Maradona's most celebrated slaloms with its blend of power, control, and audacity.

Just four minutes later, Messi completed his brace with a strikingly similar effort: an unstoppable weaving run through defenders inside the box that ended with a fierce shot past the helpless goalkeeper. The Atlanta crowd, which had once watched him shine for Argentina, was forced this time to witness another masterclass from the league's leading scorer.

Berterame breaks the deadlock before halftime

Inter Miami found the breakthrough just before the first half came to a close. Germán Berterame, alert inside the penalty area, rose to head home a precise cross from Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez. It was a fitting reward for Gerardo Martino's team, which absorbed Atlanta United's early pressure and struck at the ideal moment.

St. Clair's save that changed the game

With Miami leading 1-0, the home side came agonizingly close to leveling. In the 51st minute, Paraguayan winger Miguel Almirón found a golden chance for Atlanta. But Inter Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair produced a stunning stop to keep his team ahead. That pivotal moment opened the door for Messi's subsequent attacking clinic.

Inter Miami solidifies second place in the Eastern Conference

The win at Mercedes-Benz Stadium marks Inter Miami's third consecutive victory, as the Florida club strengthens its grip on second place in the Eastern Conference with 55 points. Nashville leads the standings by an eleven-point margin, but Martino's squad continues to close the gap on the top positions while showing growing consistency behind its star talents.

The only blemish on the night for the Herons came in stoppage time, when former Inter Miami player Fafa Picault converted a penalty to make the final score 3-1. Still, the night belonged entirely to Messi, who produced one of his most inspired performances in the American league.

Frequently asked questions about Messi's Atlanta masterclass