Lionel Messi scored two second-half goals 4 minutes apart after a first-half assist, and Inter Miami cruised to a 3-1 victory over Atlanta United.
Messi won the Golden Boot Award last season with 29 goals. He and Josef Martínez are the only players in league history to score at least 25 times in a regular season twice. Messi’s 40 goal contributions are nine shy of Carlos Vela’s record set in 2019 with Los Angeles FC, and the Miami legend has four matches remaining to break it. Lucas Hoyos saved two shots for Atlanta United, which played Inter Miami to a 2-2 draw on the road to start September.
Clair had two saves and lost his bid for a clean sheet when Fafà Picault scored on a penalty kick in the 89th minute. Dayne St.
Neither team scored until Germán Berterame used assists from Messi and Luis Suárez in the final minute of the first half on Saturday (October 17, 2026) night to score his ninth goal in his first 26 MLS appearances. Messi added his league-leading 24th and 25th goals in the 56th and 60th minutes for a 3-0 advantage. Berterame assisted on both scores and Suárez snagged one on Messi’ second goal.