Messi's brace lifts Inter Miami over Atlanta, leads MLS scoring

Lionel Messi scored twice in four minutes to lift Inter Miami to a 3-1 victory over Atlanta United on Saturday, extending the Herons’ winning streak to three games. Berterame opened the scoring in the 45th minute before Messi’s left‑footed finish in the 56th made it 2‑0; four minutes later, after a Luis Suárez pass, Messi fired past Lucas Hoyos to seal the win. Messi now leads the MLS scoring chart with 25 goals, six ahead of FC Dallas’ Petar Musa and Philadelphia’s Milan Iloski, and he also became the first player in league history to record at least 15 assists in three straight seasons. Inter Miami had already clinched a playoff berth on Wednesday under coach Cristian “Kily” Gonzalez, while Atlanta United remains second‑from‑bottom in the Eastern Conference after Fafa Picault’s late penalty consolation. With Messi firing on all cylinders, will Inter Miami maintain this form to win the MLS Cup, or can rivals close the gap?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/10/18/messi-brace-lifts-inter-miami-to-3-1-win-in-atlanta/