Lionel Messi scored twice as Inter Miami made it back-to-back MLS wins with a slim 3-2 victory over DC United.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner took his league tally for the season to 22 targets, serving to Javier Mascherano’s facet edge a five-goal thriller at Chase Stadium.
Messi additionally offered an help for compatriot Tadeo Allende, with the latter latching onto his team-mate’s chic throughball to interrupt the impasse within the thirty fifth minute.
Nevertheless, Christian Benteke bought DC again on degree phrases seven minutes within the second half, heading in from Brendan Servania’s outswinging cross.
However, Messi restored the hosts’ lead halfway via the interval, receiving the ball on the flip from Jordi Alba earlier than slotting house.
Miami squandered a fantastic probability to make it 3-1 within the 72nd minute when Mateo Silvetti, who was introduced down by goalkeeper Luis Barraza, rattled the crossbar from the penalty spot.
But, Messi curled in from the sting of the field in trademark style 5 minutes from time, with the hosts subsequently seeing out victory regardless of Jacob Murrell’s neat end within the 97th minute.
With two targets and an help in opposition to D.C. United, @InterMiamiCF ahead Lionel Messi recorded his sixteenth recreation with a minimum of one objective and one help, tying Carlos Vela (16) for the second-most in a participant’s first three MLS seasons and trailing solely Preki (17). pic.twitter.com/gIXVYaCSRs
— MLS Communications (@MLS_PR) September 21, 2025
Information Debrief: Yet one more a number of for Messi
This was Messi’s sixteenth recreation with a minimum of one objective and one help, tying Carlos Vela for the second-most in a participant’s first three MLS seasons and trailing solely Preki (17).
It was additionally the tenth match for the reason that starting of July – for membership and nation – during which he recorded a number of direct objective involvements, having achieved so on simply 4 events between January and June this yr.
As for Miami, they equalled their very own file from final season of 20 matches gained throughout all competitions in a single marketing campaign when conceding a minimum of one objective.