Messi Brace Powers Inter Miami Past Atlanta, Takes MLS Golden Boot Lead
Lionel Messi struck twice to lead Inter Miami to a dominant 4-0 win over Atlanta United on Saturday, propelling the Florida club closer to the top of the Eastern Conference while surging ahead in the MLS Golden Boot race.
The Argentine icon now leads the league with 26 goals, overtaking Los Angeles FC's Denis Bouanga, who began the day tied with Messi on 24. Messi’s brace helped secure a crucial three points for Miami, who are already locked into the playoffs but continue to chase a stronger postseason seeding.
With the victory, Miami drew level with FC Cincinnati at 62 points in the East, trailing only Philadelphia Union — who have already clinched the Supporters’ Shield with the best regular season record — by four points.
Messi’s opener in the 39th minute was vintage brilliance. After Baltasar Rodriguez intercepted a pass and played him through just outside the area, Messi took a touch and curled a signature left-footed shot around Pedro Amador and beyond the reach of goalkeeper Jayden Hibbert, nestling it into the top left corner.
Hibbert had denied Messi in the 13th minute after a series of early chances for the eight-time Balloon d'Or winner. But there was no stopping him the second time.
Messi was also involved in Intern's second goal in the 52nd minute, lofting a precise ball forward to Jordi Alba, who coolly chipped the keeper to make it 2-0. The goal marked Alba’s sixth of the season and came on a special night, as Inter paid tribute to the Spanish fullback following his announcement that he will retire at the end of the MLS campaign.
Luis Suárez made it 3-0 in the 61st minute before Messi capped off the night with his second goal in the 87th, finishing off a slick through ball from Alba with another tidy left-footed finish from the center of the box.
Though Messi’s availability had been uncertain due to the international break, he started after training in Florida earlier in the week with Argentina. He did not feature in their 1-0 friendly win over Venezuela at Hard Rock Stadium on Friday. Rodrigo De Paul, who made a late cameo in that match, was unavailable for Inter.
Saturday marked Inter’s final home match of the regular season at Chase Stadium, with the team set to move into the new Miami Freedom Park next year.
Whitecaps Rise to the Top in the West
Elsewhere in MLS, the Vancouver Whitecaps surged to the top of the Western Conference after a dramatic 2-1 win over Orlando City SC in Florida.
Former Bayern Munich star Thomas Müller continued his impressive run of form, scoring the game-winner deep into stoppage time with a powerful long-range strike that beat Orlando goalkeeper Pedro Gallese at the near post.
The 36-year-old German has now scored seven goals in just eight appearances across all competitions since arriving in MLS.
Dagur Thorhallsson had opened the scoring for Orlando in the 24th minute, but Vancouver equalized through Nelson Pierre in the 81st. Müller's late heroics pushed the Whitecaps to 63 points, three clear of second-place San Diego in the Western Conference standings.
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