The goal came following a great play in the box by Luis Suarez, who provided the assist with a pass to the middle, allowing Leo Messi to step in and finish cleanly.

This goal effectively sealed the match, moving Inter Miami closer to the top spot while leaving strong impressions from Suarez and Messi, who remain elite despite their age and continue to carry the team on their shoulders.

Messi’s stunning brace

Messi completed his brace following a great team play by Inter Miami, who have performed at a high level while extending their lead to 4-0 with this goal by Messi.

The move ended with Suarez letting the ball pass through, allowing Messi to gather the ball at the edge of the box, dummy the defense, and weave past everyone before finishing in front of goal and placing it low to the goalkeeper’s left post. The strike brought him to his 23rd goal in MLS this season.

Lionel Messi’s numbers in Inter Miami victory

The Rosario forward completed a stellar performance before being substituted in the 63rd minute of the match. With two high-quality goals, the Herons’ captain led his team’s attack and registered a total of seven shots, four of which were on target.

In addition to his finishing efficiency, the Argentine attacker’s presence was decisive in playmaking in the final third of the pitch. Messi will play again with Inter Miami against New York City on Wednesday, October 14.

Key takeaways

• His 23rd MLS goal of the season was scored by Lionel Messi against D.C. United.
• The 63rd minute marked Lionel Messi’s substitution after registering seven shots.
• Wednesday, October 14 will feature Lionel Messi and Inter Miami facing New York City.

How to watch Inter Miami vs DC United in the USA

Inter Miami vs. D.C. United will be available to watch live in the United States on Apple TV, the official home of MLS matches.

Can I watch Inter Miami vs DC United for free?

Yes! Apple TV currently offers a 7-day free trial for MLS, and the specific Inter Miami vs. D.C. United match page displays the same offer.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

Inter Miami enters the matchup in third place in the Eastern Conference with 46 points from 27 games, keeping the Herons firmly in the playoff picture. However, their recent MLS form has slowed their push toward the top of the conference: Miami has gone winless in its last five league matches, drawing four and losing one. The most recent result was a 2-1 defeat away to Columbus Crew on September 28.

That makes this home game particularly important for Cristian “Kily” Gonzalez‘s team. With the regular season approaching its decisive stretch, Miami cannot afford to continue dropping points if it wants to secure one of the Eastern Conference’s best playoff positions.

The Herons have also been one of MLS’s most dangerous attacking teams, with Lionel Messi leading the team with 21 league goals and Luis Suarez adding 13. Rodrigo De Paul has also provided a major creative contribution, with 50 chances created.

D.C. United arrives in a much more difficult position. The club sits 11th in the Eastern Conference with 30 points from 26 matches, leaving it outside the current playoff places. D.C. has shown some signs of life recently, though, going unbeaten in three of its last five league games and earning a 3-3 draw against Vancouver Whitecaps in its most recent outing.

What time is the Inter Miami vs DC United match?

The Inter Miami vs. D.C. United match kicks off on Saturday, October 10, at 7:30 PM ET. For viewers in different regions of the United States, here are the local start times:

• Eastern Time: 7:30 PM
• Central Time: 6:30 PM
• Mountain Time: 5:30 PM
• Pacific Time: 4:30 PM

The Uruguayan international begins the match on the bench. He returns to the matchday squad today after being sidelined during the win against Orlando due to a lower-leg injury.

In his absence from the starting lineup, head coach Javier Mascherano has tapped marquee offseason signing German Berterame to lead the attack alongside Lionel Messi.

With Suarez’s return to active duty, Spanish defender Sergio Reguilon remains the only major injury concern for the Herons. Reguilón has been limited to just one appearance this season—a 3–0 preseason loss to Alianza Lima—after suffering a Grade II right knee sprain.

Inter Miami confirmed lineup

With the squad nearly at full strength aside from Reguilon, Mascherano is fielding a top-tier lineup to secure three points and keep Inter Miami in the win column. In a tactical shift from the previous match, Mateo Silvetti enters the starting XI in place of Tadeo Allende.

This is Miami’s starting IX to face DC United: Dayne St. Clair; Noah Allen, Micael Silva, Maximiliano Falcon, Facundo Mura; Yannick Bright, Rodrigo De Paul, Mateo Silvetti, Telasco Segovia; Lionel Messi, German Berterame.

DC United tried to respond after the break and gradually increased the pressure in the attacking third. Their persistence paid off when Tai Baribo scored from close range after a rebound, cutting the deficit and giving the home side hope late in the match.

Despite the late push from DC United, Inter Miami stayed compact defensively and managed the final minutes to secure the victory. The result gives the Herons their second win of the 2026 MLS season as they continue climbing the Eastern Conference standings.

With Messi expected to be in the starting XI this afternoon, Baltimore is bracing for a massive crowd. According to MLS insider Tom Bogert, the club is expecting a complete sell-out of the 71,000-capacity stadium.

Atmospheres on this scale have become the standard whenever the Argentine icon travels with Inter Miami. In fact, during the season opener against LAFC at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, a crowd of 75,673 fans marked the second-highest attendance in MLS history and set a new record for an opening day.

Inter Miami arrive in Baltimore searching for their second consecutive win after defeating Orlando City 4-2 in the Florida Derby. In that match, Messi led the Herons to their first victory of the season with a two-goal brace, including a fantastic free kick strike.

The Messi effect

The Messi effect continues to redefine MLS attendance standards as fans across the country flock to see the legendary forward in person. This trend was perhaps most evident on April 27, 2024, when Inter Miami visited the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium. That match drew a staggering 65,612 fans, setting a new single-game attendance record for the New England club.

A similar phenomenon occurred on April 13, 2025, when the Chicago Fire hosted Inter Miami at Soldier Field. The match attracted 62,358 spectators, shattering the Fire’s previous all-time attendance record.

Messi could make history in Baltimore

Aside from the spectacle of the crowd, the match carries significant historic weight. Messi enters today with 898 career goals. A two-goal performance this afternoon would make him only the second player in soccer history—alongside Cristiano Ronaldo—to reach the prestigious 900-goal milestone.

Messi will serve as the starting captain for Javier Mascherano’s side this afternoon as Inter Miami search for their second win of the season. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is coming off a dominant performance in last week’s Florida Derby.

Leo led Miami to a 4-2 victory over Orlando City with a brace, including a fantastic free kick goal. That win helped the club steady itself following a disappointing 3-0 loss to LAFC in their season opener.

They face a DC United squad also looking to regain momentum. After defeating the Philadelphia Union 1-0 to start the year, the Black-and-Red suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Austin FC in their last outing. Now playing in a NFL-sized stadium in Baltimore, DC United will look to leverage the massive crowd to secure a vital three points against the reigning league favorites.

Messi closing in on 900 career goals

Beyond the three points, all eyes will be on Messi as he approaches a historic statistical milestone. The Argentine currently sits at 898 career goals; a brace this afternoon would make him only the second player in the history of the sport to reach the 900-goal mark, joining long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

Additionally, Messi’s recent strike against Orlando brought his career free-kick total to 70. He is now within striking distance of the all-time Brazilian legends at the top of the list: Juninho Pernambucano (72), Roberto Dinamite (75), and Marcelinho Carioca (78).

[Watch DC United vs Inter Miami live in the USA on Apple TV]

After opening the season with a loss to Los Angeles FC, Inter Miami bounced back in style with a 4-2 win over Orlando City SC in the heated Florida Derby, with Lionel Messi leading the charge.

Their next opponent, DC United, enters with a similar start to the campaign after defeating Philadelphia Union 1-0 before dropping their last match by the same score against Austin FC, leaving both teams eager to gain early momentum in the MLS season.

When will the DC United vs Inter Miami match be played?

DC United play against Inter Miami this Saturday, March 7, in a 2026 MLS regular season game, with kickoff scheduled for 4:30 PM (ET).

DC United vs Inter Miami: Time by State in the USA

ET: 4:30 PM
CT: 3:30 PM
MT: 2:30 PM
PT: 1:30 PM

How to watch DC United vs Inter Miami in the USA

Tune Apple TV to catch the 2026 MLS regular season showdown between DC United and Inter Miami live in the USA.

With the recent brace against DC United, Lionel Messi reached 71 goal contributions—goals and assists—in just 47 MLS games, setting a new record as the fastest player to achieve this milestone, as per ESPN. He surpasses Carlos Vela’s prior record of hitting the mark in 55 games and leaves Sebastian Giovinco in third, who did it in 61 games. Rounding out the top six are Chucho Hernandez, Josef Martinez, and Robbie Keane, in that order.

At 38, Lionel Messi defies expectations, topping the MLS scoring charts with 22 goals. His performance outpaces rivals Sam Surridge, with 21 goals, and Denis Bouanga, with 19. The Argentine star’s remarkable form positions him as a strong contender for his first MLS Golden Boot since joining Inter Miami.

Lionel Messi has already clinched some MLS records since joining Inter Miami

While Inter Miami are still in pursuit of their first MLS Cup, Lionel Messi is already scripting a legendary narrative within the league. Not only did he become the fastest player to reach 70 goal contributions, but his tenure with Inter Miami since 2023 has also seen him clinch three additional league records.

On May 4, 2024, Messi stunned audiences by setting the single-game record for goal contributions with a mesmerizing display against the New York Red Bulls, delivering five assists and scoring once. His prowess continued into 2025, as he set another milestone in July by becoming the only player in MLS history to net multiple goals across four consecutive games.

Beyond these achievements, Messi has rewritten the record books at Inter Miami, becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer with 64 goals, an impressive feat that surpasses Luis Suarez’s tally by 26 goals. As renewal talks reach a promising phase, the Argentine legend has the potential to expand his lead, solidifying his status as the most influential player in Herons’ history and one of the most impactful figures in MLS history.

[Watch Inter Miami vs DC United live in the USA on Apple TV]

Inter Miami snapped out of their slump with a convincing 3-1 win over the Seattle Sounders in League Cup play, keeping themselves in the playoff mix and restoring some momentum after back-to-back losses.

Lionel Messi and his teammates now shift their focus to DC United, a club sitting near the bottom of the Eastern Conference but riding a four-game unbeaten streak, determined to prove they’re tougher than their record suggests.

When will the Inter Miami vs DC United match be played?

Inter Miami will receive DC United this Saturday, September 20, in a 2025 MLS regular season game, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 PM (ET).

Inter Miami vs DC United: Time by State in the USA

ET: 7:30 PM
CT: 6:30 PM
MT: 5:30 PM
PT: 4:30 PM

How to watch Inter Miami vs DC United in the USA

Tune in to MLS League Pass on Apple TV to catch the 2025 MLS regular season showdown between Inter Miami and DC United, live in the USA.

Lionel Messi managed to avoid serious injury in Inter Miami’s last game and proved his fitness in their latest training session by participating fully without any issues. Consequently, head coach Javier Mascherano will rely on his star forward in the starting lineup as the Herons strive to ascend the MLS Eastern Conference standings.

For the Herons to secure a victory against DC United, their midfield must match the high performance seen in their previous outing. In recent losses, this was the team’s Achilles’ heel. Sergio Busquets and Yannick Bright need to regain their solid form to offer essential stability to the defensive line, a crucial element in their successes. Additionally, Jordi Alba’s impactful role as a left midfielder could once again play a decisive part in the team’s strategy.

Inter Miami lineup vs DC United

Inter Miami prepare to face DC United missing key players Luis Suarez, David Ruiz, and Fafa Picault, with the latter two absent from the recent training session, as reported by Jose Armando Rodriguez. Young forward Allen Obando trained separately, leaving him out the game. Given these uncertainties, head coach Javier Mascherano will opt for a similar lineup as their last match amidst squad shortages.

Considering this information, the Herons will lineup as follows:

DC United lineup vs Inter Miami

Like the Herons, DC United will miss center back Lukas MacNaughton due to a red card in the last game. Head coach Rene Weiler will opt for Kye Rowles to replace him. Meanwhile, Dominique Badji, Kristian Fletcher, and Randall Leal are still out with injuries. As a result, they have had to make some changes in the lineup.

With this in mind, DC United will play as follows:

[Watch DC United vs Inter Miami live in the USA on Apple TV]

Fresh off a hard-fought Leagues Cup victory over Tigres UANL, Inter Miami shifts focus back to MLS play as Lionel Messi and company aim to close the gap on Eastern Conference leaders FC Cincinnati.

Sitting near the top of the table, Inter enter with momentum and a favorable matchup against last-place D.C. United, who are desperate to climb out of the basement, making this a prime opportunity for Miami to grab three valuable points in the playoff race.

When will the DC United vs Inter Miami match be played?

DC United will face Inter Miami this Saturday, August 23, in a 2025 MLS regular season game, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 PM (ET).

DC United vs Inter Miami: Time by State in the USA

ET: 7:30 PM
CT: 6:30 PM
MT: 5:30 PM
PT: 4:30 PM

How to watch DC United vs Inter Miami in the USA

Tune in to MLS League Pass on Apple TV to catch the 2025 MLS regular season showdown between DC United and Inter Miami, live in the USA.