Inter Miami CF turned on the style at Chase Stadium as Lionel Messi led the Herons to a dominant 4–0 win over Atlanta United FC. The home fans were treated to a masterclass from their captain, who scored twice and assisted once. The buildup to this encounter had been intense, with SoftFootball’s match preview highlighting Miami’s push for playoff form and Messi’s expected impact, and he certainly lived up to it.
From the first whistle, Miami looked in total control. Messi broke the deadlock in the 39th minute after linking up beautifully with Baltasar Rodríguez, finishing low into the corner past Jayden Hibbert. Just minutes into the second half, he slipped a clever pass through to Jordi Alba, who chipped the goalkeeper to double the lead.
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The connection between the two former Barcelona stars was pure nostalgia for fans, a throwback to their best days at Camp Nou. The rhythm and creativity on display were the kind of football Miami supporters have been dreaming of, much like in SoftFootball’s earlier coverage of Messi’s magic in the 4–1 win over New England.
Luis Suárez made it three with a thunderous strike from distance in the 61st minute, and Messi rounded off the night in style, chesting down Alba’s low cross and volleying home his second goal. The Argentine finished with 2 goals, 1 assist, and 6 key passes, earning Icon of the Match honours as posted on Inter Miami’s official X account. Alba and Suárez both impressed too, while Sergio Busquets quietly dictated the midfield tempo.
The win still leaves Inter Miami in third place in the MLS Eastern Conference, sitting on 62 points from 33 games. With the MLS Cup Playoffs approaching, this performance sends a clear message: Messi and Miami are heating up at the perfect time.
