In a match that had all the makings of a late-season thriller in Major League Soccer, Lionel Messi once again proved why he's not just the greatest player of his generation but perhaps the most clutch performer in the history of the sport. The 38-year-old Argentine maestro delivered a vintage performance, scoring a brilliant brace and adding an assist to propel Inter Miami to a hard-fought 3-2 victory over D.C. United at Chase Stadium on Saturday night. The win not only extended Miami's unbeaten run but also solidified their position as frontrunners in the Eastern Conference playoff race, all while Messi etched his name deeper into the MLS record books.
The atmosphere at Chase Stadium was electric from the opening whistle, with a sellout crowd of over 21,000 fans waving pink flags and chanting Messi's name in unison. Inter Miami, under the guidance of new head coach Javier Mascherano—Messi's former Barcelona teammate—entered the contest riding high after a 3-1 midweek triumph over the Seattle Sounders. But D.C. United, fresh off a five-match unbeaten streak under interim manager Rene Weiler, posed a genuine threat, boasting the league's most prolific striker in Christian Benteke, who had netted eight goals in his last 10 outings.
The first half unfolded as a tactical chess match, with Miami controlling possession at 62% but struggling to break down United's compact defense. It took until the 35th minute for the Herons to find their rhythm, and when they did, it was Messi who pulled the strings. Spotting a seam in D.C.'s backline, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner delivered an inch-perfect, 40-yard pass over the top, threading it between two defenders like a surgeon's scalpel. Tadeo Allende, the 22-year-old Mexican forward who's been a revelation since his summer arrival from Pachuca, latched onto the ball and coolly slotted it past Luis Barraza in the United net. 1-0 Miami. The assist was Messi's 12th of the season, putting him on pace for another double-digit haul in contributions.
But football, as we know, is a game of momentum swings, and D.C. United wasted little time in responding. Early in the second half, just eight minutes after the restart, Benteke rose highest to meet a corner from Mateusz Klich, powering a header past a helpless Drake Callender. 1-1. The Belgian powerhouse's goal silenced the home crowd momentarily, and it seemed like United might steal a point on the road. Benteke's strike was his ninth of the campaign, drawing him level with the league's elite scorers and underscoring why D.C. views him as the cornerstone of their rebuild.
Enter Messi, stage left. The magic resumed in the 66th minute, a moment that will be replayed endlessly in highlight reels. Jordi Alba, the 36-year-old Spanish full-back and Messi's longtime Barcelona partner-in-crime, collected a loose ball from defender Ian Fray on the left flank. With a quick one-two exchange that evoked memories of their Camp Nou glory days, Alba slipped the ball to Messi just outside the penalty area. The Argentine, drifting intelligently from an offside position to stay onside, received it with his first touch, spun away from his marker with the second, and unleashed a thunderous left-footed strike into the bottom right corner. Barraza had no chance; the ball kissed the post on its way in. 2-1 Miami. The stadium erupted, and even neutral observers couldn't help but applaud the sheer artistry.
Messi wasn't done. With 85 minutes on the clock, Sergio Busquets — another Barcelona exile now thriving in Miami's midfield — won a midfield duel and fed the ball to his compatriot on the edge of the box. What followed was a curl for the ages: Messi shaped his body, feinted right, and whipped a right-footed effort over the leaping Barraza, the ball arcing beautifully into the top left corner. 3-1. It was his 22nd goal of the season, vaulting him atop the MLS Golden Boot race ahead of Nashville's Sam Surridge (21) and LAFC's Denis Bouanga (19). More remarkably, the brace marked Messi's 173rd career two-goal haul across all competitions, a testament to his enduring brilliance.
D.C. United clawed back a late consolation through substitute Jacob Murrell in the 89th minute, a tidy finish after a counter led by Klich, but it was too little, too late. The final whistle blew with Miami celebrating a crucial three points, bringing their record to 15-6-7 and 52 points — just two shy of clinching a playoff spot. For D.C. (5-16-10, 25 points), the loss snapped their mini-resurgence and leaves them mired in the East's basement.
Post-match, Mascherano couldn't hide his admiration for his star man. "Leo is Leo," the coach said with a grin, echoing a phrase that's become synonymous with Messi's genius. "He sees things others don't, and when he decides to take over, good luck stopping him. This team is built around him, but tonight, it was his vision that made the difference." Messi, ever the humble icon, deflected praise to his teammates: "The assist to Tadeo was the key moment; we needed that early goal to settle us. The defense held strong after Benteke's header, and Jordi and Sergio... they're family. We're pushing for something special this season."
Statistically, Messi's night was historic. His two goals and assist made it 71 goal contributions (goals + assists) in just 47 MLS appearances since joining in 2023 — the fastest ever in league history, per ESPN stats. He's now Inter Miami's all-time leading scorer with 64 goals, 26 ahead of Luis Suarez, and has matched Carlos Vela's record for most multi-goal, multi-assist games (16) in a player's first three MLS seasons. At 38, defying Father Time like few before him, Messi's form positions him as the overwhelming favorite for his first MLS Golden Boot.For Inter Miami, this victory is more than just points; it's a statement. The Herons have transformed from perennial underachievers into legitimate title contenders, blending South American flair with European pedigree. Players like Allende (7 goals in 12 starts) and the evergreen Alba (5 assists) complement Messi's sorcery, while Callender's eight saves kept the dream alive. Mascherano's system—a fluid 4-3-3 that morphs into a 3-4-3 on the attack—has injected discipline without stifling creativity.
D.C. United, meanwhile, can take solace in Benteke's form and Weiler's tactical tweaks, but defensive lapses remain an Achilles' heel. They've conceded 48 goals, the league's worst, and need a miracle to sneak into the playoffs. Benteke's header was a highlight, but Murrell's late tap-in exposed ongoing issues with game management.
As the sun set over Chase Stadium, one thing was clear: Lionel Messi's magic isn't fading—it's evolving. In a league often criticized for lacking star power, he's elevating MLS to new heights, one brace at a time. Inter Miami's playoff push rolls on, and with Messi leading the charge, who would bet against them lifting silverware? The regular season has three weeks left, but for Miami fans, the Messi era feels eternal.
The first half unfolded as a tactical chess match, with Miami controlling possession at 62% but struggling to break down United's compact defense. It took until the 35th minute for the Herons to find their rhythm, and when they did, it was Messi who pulled the strings. Spotting a seam in D.C.'s backline, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner delivered an inch-perfect, 40-yard pass over the top, threading it between two defenders like a surgeon's scalpel. Tadeo Allende, the 22-year-old Mexican forward who's been a revelation since his summer arrival from Pachuca, latched onto the ball and coolly slotted it past Luis Barraza in the United net. 1-0 Miami. The assist was Messi's 12th of the season, putting him on pace for another double-digit haul in contributions.
But football, as we know, is a game of momentum swings, and D.C. United wasted little time in responding. Early in the second half, just eight minutes after the restart, Benteke rose highest to meet a corner from Mateusz Klich, powering a header past a helpless Drake Callender. 1-1. The Belgian powerhouse's goal silenced the home crowd momentarily, and it seemed like United might steal a point on the road. Benteke's strike was his ninth of the campaign, drawing him level with the league's elite scorers and underscoring why D.C. views him as the cornerstone of their rebuild.
Enter Messi, stage left. The magic resumed in the 66th minute, a moment that will be replayed endlessly in highlight reels. Jordi Alba, the 36-year-old Spanish full-back and Messi's longtime Barcelona partner-in-crime, collected a loose ball from defender Ian Fray on the left flank. With a quick one-two exchange that evoked memories of their Camp Nou glory days, Alba slipped the ball to Messi just outside the penalty area. The Argentine, drifting intelligently from an offside position to stay onside, received it with his first touch, spun away from his marker with the second, and unleashed a thunderous left-footed strike into the bottom right corner. Barraza had no chance; the ball kissed the post on its way in. 2-1 Miami. The stadium erupted, and even neutral observers couldn't help but applaud the sheer artistry.
Messi wasn't done. With 85 minutes on the clock, Sergio Busquets — another Barcelona exile now thriving in Miami's midfield — won a midfield duel and fed the ball to his compatriot on the edge of the box. What followed was a curl for the ages: Messi shaped his body, feinted right, and whipped a right-footed effort over the leaping Barraza, the ball arcing beautifully into the top left corner. 3-1. It was his 22nd goal of the season, vaulting him atop the MLS Golden Boot race ahead of Nashville's Sam Surridge (21) and LAFC's Denis Bouanga (19). More remarkably, the brace marked Messi's 173rd career two-goal haul across all competitions, a testament to his enduring brilliance.
D.C. United clawed back a late consolation through substitute Jacob Murrell in the 89th minute, a tidy finish after a counter led by Klich, but it was too little, too late. The final whistle blew with Miami celebrating a crucial three points, bringing their record to 15-6-7 and 52 points — just two shy of clinching a playoff spot. For D.C. (5-16-10, 25 points), the loss snapped their mini-resurgence and leaves them mired in the East's basement.
Post-match, Mascherano couldn't hide his admiration for his star man. "Leo is Leo," the coach said with a grin, echoing a phrase that's become synonymous with Messi's genius. "He sees things others don't, and when he decides to take over, good luck stopping him. This team is built around him, but tonight, it was his vision that made the difference." Messi, ever the humble icon, deflected praise to his teammates: "The assist to Tadeo was the key moment; we needed that early goal to settle us. The defense held strong after Benteke's header, and Jordi and Sergio... they're family. We're pushing for something special this season."
Statistically, Messi's night was historic. His two goals and assist made it 71 goal contributions (goals + assists) in just 47 MLS appearances since joining in 2023 — the fastest ever in league history, per ESPN stats. He's now Inter Miami's all-time leading scorer with 64 goals, 26 ahead of Luis Suarez, and has matched Carlos Vela's record for most multi-goal, multi-assist games (16) in a player's first three MLS seasons. At 38, defying Father Time like few before him, Messi's form positions him as the overwhelming favorite for his first MLS Golden Boot.For Inter Miami, this victory is more than just points; it's a statement. The Herons have transformed from perennial underachievers into legitimate title contenders, blending South American flair with European pedigree. Players like Allende (7 goals in 12 starts) and the evergreen Alba (5 assists) complement Messi's sorcery, while Callender's eight saves kept the dream alive. Mascherano's system—a fluid 4-3-3 that morphs into a 3-4-3 on the attack—has injected discipline without stifling creativity.
D.C. United, meanwhile, can take solace in Benteke's form and Weiler's tactical tweaks, but defensive lapses remain an Achilles' heel. They've conceded 48 goals, the league's worst, and need a miracle to sneak into the playoffs. Benteke's header was a highlight, but Murrell's late tap-in exposed ongoing issues with game management.
As the sun set over Chase Stadium, one thing was clear: Lionel Messi's magic isn't fading—it's evolving. In a league often criticized for lacking star power, he's elevating MLS to new heights, one brace at a time. Inter Miami's playoff push rolls on, and with Messi leading the charge, who would bet against them lifting silverware? The regular season has three weeks left, but for Miami fans, the Messi era feels eternal.
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