Lionel Messi put on another masterclass on October 17, 2026, scoring two sensational solo goals just four minutes apart to take his MLS-leading season tally to 25 as Inter Miami brushed aside hosts Atlanta United 3-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Argentine superstar added a first-half assist for good measure, meaning he had a hand in all three Miami goals on the night — and he continues to rewrite the MLS record books at 39 years old.
Messi Takes Over After The Break
Miami went into halftime ahead thanks to Mexico striker German Berterame, who headed home in the final minute of the first half with Messi and Luis Suarez credited with the assists. It was Berterame’s ninth goal in his first 26 MLS appearances.
Then the show began. In the 56th minute, Messi drove infield from the right wing, exchanged passes with Berterame on the edge of the penalty area, danced past a desperate Atlanta defender, and fired low into the net.
His second was more of the same brilliance. This time Suarez sent him free on a breakaway, and Messi again bewitched a hapless defender before beating Atlanta goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos with his trademark left foot. Atlanta grabbed a late consolation through a Fafa Picault penalty in the 89th minute, but the result was never in doubt.
Records Keep Tumbling
At fulltime, Messi held a six-goal lead in the race for the MLS Golden Boot and moved level with LAFC’s Son Heung-Min for the joint-most assists with 15. He is now the first player in MLS history to register 15 assists in three consecutive seasons.
The numbers keep stacking up: Messi has now recorded a goal contribution in 13 straight matches, tying the second-longest streak of his career for club and country. He and Josef Martinez are the only players in league history to score at least 25 times in a regular season twice, and his 40 goal contributions are just nine shy of Carlos Vela’s single-season record set in 2019 — with four matches remaining.
It was also a memorable night personally for Messi, marking his first visit to Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium since the 2026 World Cup semifinal in July, when he provided two late assists to propel Argentina past England. He now has four goals in three games since bidding farewell to the Argentina national team in a friendly against Benin earlier this month.
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Source: ESPN — read the full story there.
