ATLANTA — At 39, Lionel Messi is still deciding games by himself. The Inter Miami captain scored twice in four second-half minutes to lead his team to a 3-1 win over Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, Miami’s third straight victory in MLS.
Germán Berterame opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time, heading in a Luis Suárez cross. Messi took over after the break: in the 56th minute he cut inside from the right, exchanged passes with Berterame and finished low; four minutes later he ran onto a Suárez through ball, beat his marker and slotted past goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos. Fafà Picault converted a late penalty (89′) for Atlanta’s consolation.
The brace takes Messi to a league-leading 25 goals this season — six clear in the Golden Boot race — and his 15 assists are tied for the MLS lead with LAFC’s Son Heung-min. He is the first player in league history to record at least 15 assists in three consecutive seasons, and he now has a goal involvement in 12 straight regular-season matches. Suárez’s assist on the second goal was his 100th goal contribution for Inter Miami.
“I can’t believe this guy does what he does at 39 years of age,” Miami head coach Cristian “Kily” González said. “And what makes me happiest is that he’s happy. If he’s happy, he performs the way he performs.” Miami, already qualified for the playoffs, sit second in the Eastern Conference with 55 points, behind Nashville.
Video: MLS
Photo: Football Today
Source: MLS, October 17, 2026
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