The second came almost immediately after, in the 60th minute, on a great counterattack engineered by Luis Suarez. Suarez crossed the ball to his longtime teammate, and Messi finished with his left foot inside the goalkeeper’s right post to extend the lead.

Lionel Messi delivered another performance for the history books. With his brace, the Argentine captain led Inter Miami to a 3-0 victory, scoring the final two goals of the match in quick succession.

Records achieved vs Atlanta United

Messi tied Los Angeles FC’s Son Heung-min for the league lead with his 15th assist, becoming the first player in league history to record at least 15 assists in three consecutive seasons. He provided the assist to German Berterame on the opening goal.

Messi then added his league-leading 24th and 25th goals of the MLS season. Berterame assisted on both scores, and Luis Suarez snagged an assist on Messi’s second goal. The performance keeps Messi firmly at the top of the league’s goal-scoring leaderboard.

Messi won the Golden Boot Award last season with 29 goals. He and Josef Martinez are the only players in league history to score at least 25 goals 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.

The road to 936 Goals

The numerical impact of Messi’s career is split between the national team and the clubs where he has left his mark. Reaching the 936-goal milestone following the clash against Atlanta United reflects an unprecedented level of consistency within the sport’s elite.

• Club goals: Barcelona (672), Paris Saint-Germain (32), and Inter Miami (106).
• Argentina National Team goals: 126 official goals.
• Total assists: 427 distributed across a 22-year career.
• Total contributions: 1,363 direct goal involvements in just over 1,180 matches

Key takeaways

• Lionel Messi’s brace led Inter Miami to a 3-0 victory over Atlanta United.
• A 15th assist tied Lionel Messi with Son Heung-min for the MLS lead.
• 936 career goals were reached by Lionel Messi following the clash against Atlanta United.

How to watch Atlanta United vs Inter Miami in the USA

In the United States, the Atlanta United vs Inter Miami match will be available to stream live on Apple TV, which carries every MLS game during the 2026 season.

Can I watch Atlanta United vs Inter Miami for free?

Apple TV‘s MLS page advertises a seven-day trial followed by a paid subscription, allowing eligible new subscribers to access MLS coverage during the trial period.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

Atlanta United welcome Inter Miami to Mercedes-Benz Stadium with contrasting objectives as the 2026 MLS regular season approaches its conclusion. Inter Miami have already secured a place in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, while Atlanta remain under pressure to climb the Eastern Conference standings and keep their postseason hopes alive.

Inter Miami enter the game after a 2-0 victory over New York City FC on October 14, a result that officially secured their playoff berth. German Berterame and Rodrigo De Paul scored in the first half, while goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair recorded another clean sheet. The reigning MLS Cup champions are now looking to build momentum for their title defense and improve their position ahead of the postseason.

Lionel Messi remains central to Miami’s ambitions. The Argentine star leads the league in goal contributions, with 23 goals and 14 assists, and is pursuing a third consecutive Landon Donovan MLS MVP award. His combination with Luis Suarez, De Paul and Berterame gives Inter Miami multiple attacking threats capable of troubling Atlanta’s defense.

Atlanta, meanwhile, need points to close the gap on the Eastern Conference playoff places. They head into the match after a 3-0 away victory over CF Montreal on October 14, a result that offered a timely boost after a difficult run of results. Aleksey Miranchuk and Miguel Almiron will be important attacking figures as the hosts attempt to take advantage of home-field support.

Atlanta United vs Inter Miami: Predicted Lineups

Atlanta United (4-1-4-1): Lucas Hoyos; Elias Baez, Junior Alonso, Paulo Diaz, Matthew Edwards; Mauricio Amaro; Giuliano Galoppo, Miguel Almiron, Aleksei Miranchuk, Ajani Fortune; Breel Embolo.

Inter Miami (4-3-3): Dayne St. Clair; Sergio Reguilon, Micael, Casemiro, Gonzalo Lujan; Matias Galarza, David Ayala, Rodrigo De Paul; German Berterame, Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi.

What time is the Atlanta United vs Inter Miami match?

Atlanta United vs Inter Miami kicks off on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 7:30 PM ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. For viewers across 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

How to watch Inter Miami vs NYCFC in the USA

In the United States, the match will be available to stream live on Apple TV, which carries every MLS game during the 2026 season.

Can I watch Inter Miami vs NYCFC for free?

Eligible viewers may be able to watch Inter Miami vs NYCFC for free through Apple TV‘s seven-day free trial. The official MLS page advertises a seven-day trial followed by a paid monthly subscription.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

Inter Miami return to Nu Stadium looking to strengthen their position in the Eastern Conference as the MLS regular season approaches its conclusion. The Herons enter the matchup after a convincing 4-0 win over D.C. United, a result that provided a timely boost in their push for a strong postseason position. Lionel Messi remains central to Miami’s attack, while Luis Suarez and the team’s other attacking options will look to maintain that momentum.

NYCFC arrive in Miami needing points to improve their playoff prospects. The New York side have had an inconsistent run of results, and their defensive record has been a concern. With the regular season nearing its end, every result matters as clubs try to secure a postseason place and improve their position ahead of the MLS Cup Playoffs.

The matchup also offers a chance for Inter Miami to build on their recent head-to-head success. Miami won the previous meeting between the teams this season, 3-2, and have enjoyed a strong recent record against NYCFC. The visitors will need a more consistent performance if they are to leave Florida with a result that helps their playoff campaign.

Messi is one of the key players to watch after scoring twice in the previous match against D.C. United. NYCFC will look to Nicolas Fernandez Mercau, one of their leading attacking threats, to help them challenge Miami’s defense. With both teams seeking important points at this stage of the season, the game carries significance for their respective postseason ambitions.

Inter Miami vs NYCFC: Predicted Lineups

Inter Miami (4-3-3): Dayne St. Clair; Sergio Reguilon, Micael, Casemiro, Gonzalo Lujan; Matias Galarza, David Ayala, Rodrigo De Paul; German Berterame, Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi.

NYCFC (4-2-3-1): Matt Freese; Lucas Cavallo, James Sands, Thiago Martins, Tayvon Gray; Aidan O’Neill, Andres Perea; Hannes Wolf, Ignacio Fernandez, Agustin Ojeda; Alonso Martinez.

What time is the Inter Miami vs NYCFC match?

Inter Miami vs NYCFC kicks off on Wednesday, October 14, at 7:30 PM ET at Nu Stadium in Miami, Florida. Fans watching from other parts of the United States can follow the match at these local start times:

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

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

Per reporter Michelle Kaufman, Courtois wasn’t happy with Inter Miami‘s complaining attitude towards the referee. “I would be red carded after five minutes against those guys [if I was playing]. It’s too much. What they do is bad for the game and it’s sad. The guys, they stayed focused, and we’ll focus on that,” Courtois said.

Inter Miami has plenty of Latin American players and they come from a different school of soccer. They are used to contact, plenty of ref-talk, and Courtois wasn’t having it, even if his team won the game against Lionel Messi.

Messi and Inter Miami are still in a dire situation

While Inter Miami’s spot on the table isn’t precisely bad, they haven’t been winning a lot lately. After appointing Kily Gonzalez as head coach, the fortunes haven’t turned around. However, Gonzalez was adamant on making clear the refereeing mistakes cost Inter Miami the game.

“There were very clear incidents on the pitch: the first moment involving Daniel was a handball, and before their second goal, there was a foul on Rodrigo (De Paul). As for the goal itself, it was valid, I just watched the replay. These things happen in football, and we have to accept them,” Gonzalez said.

Inter Miami’s spot in the standings

Inter Miami are now third in the Eastern Conference behind Nashville and New England. Also, Charlotte and Chicago are now both very close to Inter Miami, as they trail by three and four points, though Chicago has a game in hand.

While Inter Miami should have the talent and ability to turn things around, it’s time to make it count. After all, they just lost to Columbus, who are 12th and have lost almost double the games they’ve won.

Key takeaways

• Laurent Courtois slammed Inter Miami’s complaining attitude toward referees following a Columbus Crew victory.
• Coach Kily Gonzalez claimed refereeing mistakes cost Inter Miami during their recent match.
• Inter Miami sits third in the Eastern Conference standings behind Nashville and New England.

The Herons were trailing 1-0 in the first half following a penalty scored by Josef Martinez, who was one of Messi’s first teammates in Miami back in 2023. Only six minutes after the Crew took the lead, Messi made sure to make things level in the first half.

The night ended in a late loss for Miami, but at least there’s a positive aspect on the personal side for Messi, who now needs just two more free kick goals to tie the all-time record. Just watch this absolute beauty of yet another piece of art by Leo:

Who has more career free kick goals than Lionel Messi?

Messi is chasing the record set by former Brazilian soccer player Marcelinho Carioca, who recorded 78 free kick goals throughout his career. But the Argentine star knows a thing or two about surpassing Brazilian players on this list.

Messi is already second behind Marcelinho Carioca, having overtaken the likes of Jair Rosa Pinto, Roberto Dinamite, and Juninho Pernambucano recently.

1. Marcelinho Carioca – 78 career free kick goals
2. Lionel Messi – 76
3. Jair Rosa Pinto – 74
4. Roberto Dinamite – 73
5. Juninho Pernambucano – 72

Key takeaways

• Lionel Messi scored his 76th career free kick against Columbus Crew in 2026.
• Just two goals separate the Argentine superstar from tying the all-time record.
• 78 free kick goals is the all-time record held by Marcelinho Carioca.

How to watch Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami in the USA

Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami will be available to watch exclusively on Apple TV in the United States. The MLS has moved all of its matches in 2026, with the former standalone MLS Season Pass replaced by an Apple TV subscription.

Can I watch Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami for free?

Yes, eligible new Apple TV subscribers can currently use a seven-day free trial before the subscription switches to the regular price of $14.99 per month in the United States.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami is a Matchday 28 Eastern Conference clash with very different implications for the two sides. Inter Miami enter the weekend in third place with 46 points, while Columbus sit 14th with 26 points.

Miami are therefore fighting to secure a top-four position and home-field advantage in the postseason, while the Crew are attempting to close the gap during the final stretch of the regular season.

The Crew arrive with some momentum after beating CF Montreal 2-0 on the road, with Mohammed Farsi and Brais Mendez scoring in the second half. That victory ended a two-game MLS losing streak and came shortly after Columbus defeated Orlando City 2-1 to secure a place and home-field rights in the 2026 US Open Cup Final. A result against the reigning MLS Cup champions would provide another boost as the Crew prepare for the final weeks of the campaign.

Inter Miami, meanwhile, are coming off a 2-2 draw with San Diego FC after recently lifting the Campeones Cup. Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez scored for the Herons, with Messi reaching 20 MLS goals for the season and Suarez moving to 13. Messi also leads the league with 33 goal contributions, while Rodrigo De Paul has recorded four goals and 12 assists during his first full MLS season.

What time is the Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami match?

The Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami match kicks off on Sunday, September 27, at 7:00 PM ET. For viewers in different regions of the United States, here are the local start times:

• Eastern Time: 7:00 PM
• Central Time: 6:00 PM
• Mountain Time: 5:00 PM
• Pacific Time: 4:00 PM

According to Inter Miami, nine Inter Miami players have been called up for the September and October international windows across senior and youth levels. However, Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul will participate in Inter Miami’s matches until October 6, when they play for Argentina against Benin.

However, they will lose against Columbus the following seven players who were called up by their countries:

• German Berterame (Mexico)
• Dayne St. Clair (Canada)
• Matias Galarza (Paraguay)
• Fricio Caicedo (Ecuador)
• Lovend’s Delinois (Haiti)
• Daniel Pinter (USA/U-20)
• Alexander Shaw (USA/U-19)

Messi available for a crucial match

Although Argentina will have prior games, Messi will only attend his farewell match on October 6 against Benin. From there, they will be able to be present for their respective matches, as is the case against Columbus Crew.

This match carries weight, as Inter Miami will look to earn three points again to stay near the top of the MLS Eastern Conference standings. The team needs a positive result to sustain its aspirations heading into the final stretch of the season and remain in contention for the top spot.

Columbus Crew, for their part, will have the opportunity to climb the table. A victory would be key to starting to leave behind the bottom spots of the conference and regaining ground in the competition.

How both teams enter the match

Columbus Crew are coming off a 2-0 victory against CF Montreal. With this result, they have seven wins, five draws, and 14 losses, placing them in 13th place.

Meanwhile, Inter Miami enter after a 2-2 draw with San Diego, where Lionel Messi scored a free-kick goal that brought him closer to breaking the record — a result that leaves them with 12 wins, 10 draws, and four losses in third place in the Eastern Conference.

With his performance at Nu Stadium against the California side, Lionel Messi now has 75 career free-kick goals, placing him in second place in soccer history for the statistic, with only one player having scored more.

Brazilian footballer Marcelinho Carioca is the all-time leader in free-kick goals with 78, achieved with clubs like Flamengo, Corinthians, and Santos in his native country. However, that mark is now well within reach for the Argentine star, as Messi is just three free-kick goals away from tying him and four from passing him.

Greats surpassed by Messi

Until recently, Messi trailed other Brazilian greats like Roberto Dinamite, Juninho Pernambucano, and Jair Rosa Pinto, who also surpassed 70 free-kick goals.

The historic list features massive names: Roberto Dinamite with 73 free-kick goals, Juninho Pernambucano with 72, Marcos Assuncao with 68, Sinisa Mihajlovic with 67, and Jorge Aravena with 65.

However, throughout this season, Messi has surpassed them during a campaign filled with free-kick goals, making it a regular expectation whenever Inter Miami play. It appears to be the best phase of his career — or one of the best — in this specific skill.

Messi’s race to 1,000 goals

Beyond his pursuit of Marcelinho Carioca, Messi also reached an incredible milestone with his goal against San Diego, hitting 930 total official goals in his career.

That total is currently the second-highest in soccer history, trailing only Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who is also chasing 1,000 goals with 979 strikes to date.

Key takeaways

• 75 career free-kick goals were reached by Lionel Messi against San Diego FC.
• 78 free-kick goals make Marcelinho Carioca the all-time leader in soccer history.
• 930 total official goals trail only Cristiano Ronaldo’s 979 career strikes.

Early in the match, San Diego stunned Nu Stadium. Following a defensive lapse, Anders Dreyer slipped past the defense and charged toward the goalkeeper. The visitors’ Danish No. 10 delivered a clinical finish to open the scoring at 1-0 in the 12th minute.

Inter Miami went into halftime tied thanks to the free kick from Lionel Messi, which marked his 101st goal for the club. After reaching 100 goals with Inter Miami during their Campeones Cup victory against Cruz Azul, the Herons’ No. 10 continues to build on his stat sheet.

Messi’s season so far

Messi has recorded 20 goals in the 2026 MLS season for Inter Miami. The Argentine star leads the league in scoring, maintaining a dominant pace during the regular season ahead of the year’s decisive challenges.

The captain maintains a decisive presence in the Herons’ attack. His influence extends beyond scoring, as he has logged 11 assists in 22 matches played during the tournament, consolidating his role as the cornerstone of the Florida franchise.

Messi‘s regular-season performance keeps the Miami squad in contention for top spots in the Eastern Conference. Highlighted by memorable outings, including a four-goal performance against CF Montreal, the South American forward continues to display complete dominance in front of the net.

Now Inter Miami will look to finish the season on a strong note, aiming to enter the postseason as a solid contender in pursuit of winning the MLS title, while Messi inches closer to the 1,000-goal mark, sitting just 70 goals away.