Lionel Messi Double Lifts Inter Miami to Third Straight MLS Win

Messi hits double as Inter Miami ease past Atlanta United

At the same Atlanta stadium where he helped Argentina reach the World Cup final in July, Lionel Messi scored twice in four minutes as Inter Miami beat Atlanta United 3-1 to continue their MLS title defence.

Messi brace seals comfortable win for Inter Miami over Atlanta...

Lionel Messi struck twice in four minutes to inspire Inter Miami to a 3-1 win away at Atlanta United on Saturday, as the Herons build momentum in their MLS title defence ahead of the playoffs.

At 39, the superstar leads the MLS scoring race with 25 goals, six clear of FC Dallas' Croatian forward Petar Musa and Philadelphia's Milan Iloski.

Back at the same Atlanta stadium where he helped Argentina defeat England in the World Cup semi-finals in July, Messi produced two superb goals to give Miami a third consecutive win.

German Berterame, who had put Miami 1-0 ahead in the 45th minute, turned creator as he picked out Messi, who drifted through the Atlanta defence before firing a left-footed strike from the middle of the box to double the lead in the 56th minute.

Four minutes later, Messi was on target again latching onto a pass from Luis Suarez, beating a stranded Junior Alonso and firing past Atlanta goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos.

MESSI. This is what he does. 🐐 https://t.co/IEjdmpnRRh

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 18, 2026

Messi helped break the deadlock shortly before the interval, heading the ball on to Suarez, who beat his marker in the area and chipped a pass for Berterame to nod in for 1-0.

Messi was awarded the assist, moving him level with LAFC's Son Heung-min at the top of the assists chart. He is the first player in MLS history to register at least 15 assists in three consecutive seasons.

Messi has now scored four times in three appearances since his emotional farewell with Argentina. The victory was Miami's third in a row under Cristian “Kily” Gonzalez, who replaced Javier Mascherano last month, and came days after they booked their playoff spot on Wednesday.

Messi on the break 1v1? Good luck. Leo has his brace. 🇦🇷 https://t.co/CoI15KzLpw

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 18, 2026

Atlanta did pull one back late when Fafa Picault slotted home an 89th-minute penalty, but Gerardo Martino's men remain second-bottom in the East and are fast running out of chances to rescue their playoff hopes.

Road win. Job done. ✅ https://t.co/Be4OnNkU4Z

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) October 18, 2026

Record Run Over in Minnesota

In other action, Minnesota United halted St. Louis City's 19-match MLS unbeaten streak which had equalled the league record with a 3-2 comeback victory, while Philadelphia remained unbeaten in 15 after a 2-2 stalemate with Charlotte.

After early strikes from Brazil's Rafael Navarro and South Korea's Jeong Sang-bin put St. Louis ahead, United hit back through Aziel Jackson in the 49th minute and Kelvin Yeboah in the 68th, before Canada's Marcus Caldeira sealed the winner in the 86th.

There's no quit in this group 🫶 https://t.co/NB7yJohR1o

— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) October 18, 2026

St. Louis, who have already secured a playoff return for the first time since 2023, will now remain joint-holders of the MLS unbeaten record alongside Columbus, Dallas and Inter Miami.

Their MLS-record 21-game unbeaten streak across all competitions also came to an end.

The team had gone unbeaten in MLS since a 2-0 loss at Austin on May 3, with 13 wins and six draws during that stretch.

Philadelphia had won eight straight MLS matches before the comeback draw at home to Charlotte.

After losing 6-4 at Miami on May 24, the Union have since won 12 and drawn three, collecting 39 out of a possible 45 points since Ryan Richter stepped in as interim head coach during the league's World Cup break.