At 39, Lionel Messi scored twice to secure a 3-1 victory for Inter Miami over Atlanta United on Saturday, continuing his extraordinary scoring run since the World Cup. The Argentine forward has now netted 17 goals in 17 appearances for the Florida-based club following the tournament.
Inter Miami moved to 55 points in the Eastern Conference with the win, maintaining second place in the standings. Messi’s contribution helped extend his tally to 25 goals in the MLS regular season, making him the outright leading scorer in the competition.
The match in Atlanta saw Luis Suárez play a significant part in the build-up to two of the goals. Late in the first half, Suárez assisted Julián Carranza Berterame, who opened the scoring. Messi’s first goal came in the 56th minute, again involving Berterame in the buildup. Four minutes later, Suárez set Messi through on goal, allowing him to brush aside the defense and double the lead.
Atlanta, struggling this season with one of the lowest point totals in the league, managed a late consolation goal in the 89th minute through former Inter Miami player Adrien Périé Picault. Despite this, the visitors held on comfortably to claim the three points.
Messi’s career goals now stand at 936. Since the World Cup final, his scoring consistency has been remarkable, averaging a goal per game. His focus remains solely on Inter Miami, where his presence continues to influence results and the club’s ambitions in MLS.
The latest win adds to a string of positive results for Inter Miami as they push for a top finish in the conference. The contributions of Suárez and Berterame, alongside Messi’s finishing, suggest the team is hitting form at a crucial stage of the season.
According to Yahoo Sports.
