ARGENTINA · SPORT

Argentina’s most famous footballer has finished with his national team, but he is still setting the pace in American soccer.

Lionel Messi scored twice as Inter Miami beat D.C. United 4-0 in Major League Soccer on Saturday, 10 October. The win at Nu Stadium, the club’s home ground in Miami, lifted Inter Miami to second place in the Eastern Conference.

Messi, Argentina’s former captain, now has 23 league goals this season, the league said. That keeps the biggest name in US soccer on course for a second straight scoring title as the playoffs approach.

How the Inter Miami Win Unfolded

Luis Suárez, the Uruguayan striker and Messi’s former Barcelona teammate, did the early damage. He scored in the 3rd minute from a Germán Berterame header and again in the 39th minute.

Both of Suárez’s goals came from headed passes by Berterame, who finished with two assists. The club said the goals were Suárez’s 14th and 15th of the regular season.

Messi made it 3-0 two minutes after half-time, finishing a pass from Suárez. In the 60th minute he ran at the defence and scored with his left foot.

Inter Miami credited Rodrigo De Paul, an Argentine midfielder, with the assist for the fourth goal. Infobae, the Buenos Aires news site, described it as a solo run past three defenders.

Goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair kept a clean sheet. Inter Miami had 61.2% of possession and 16 shots to D.C. United’s 14, the club said.

Luis Suárez on the ball for Inter Miami against the New England Revolution on 9 July 2025. Photo: Bryan Berlin / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Messi Leads the Golden Boot Race

Major League Soccer said Messi now leads its Golden Boot race by four goals over FC Dallas striker Petar Musa. The Golden Boot is the award for the league’s top scorer.

The league also said Messi leads the race for the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award. A win would make him the first player to take the most valuable player award three times.

Infobae reported that Messi has now scored in five matches in a row. It put his career total at 934 goals in 1,179 professional matches.

The result also ended a poor run for the club. Inter Miami had won only one of its previous ten games, the league said.

Life After Argentina

Messi has retired from Argentina’s national team, which he led to the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar. MLS said he scored once and set up two goals in his final international match, against Benin.

His club side now carries his full focus. Head coach Cristian “Kily” González, a former Argentina international, praised the team’s defending after the game.

González told the league the side had been decisive and had scored at the right moments. Inter Miami’s record now stands at 13 wins, 5 losses and 10 draws.

The club said its unbeaten run against D.C. United, the Washington, D.C., side, now stretches to seven matches.

What It Means for You

For US fans, the win makes a home playoff run more likely for the league’s biggest draw. Second place in the East puts Inter Miami behind only Nashville SC, according to MLS.

Anyone planning to see Messi in person should watch the final six regular-season games. Three are at home in Miami, against New York City FC, Charlotte FC and FC Cincinnati, Infobae reported.

The away games are at Atlanta United, the New York Red Bulls and the New England Revolution.

What Is Not Known

The club and the league did not publish the attendance for Saturday’s game. Final playoff seeding is not settled, because six regular-season games remain.

It is not known whether Messi will play every remaining game. The MVP award is decided by a vote after the season, so his lead is not a result.

What Comes Next

Inter Miami host New York City FC at Nu Stadium on Wednesday, 14 October, at 7:30 p.m. ET. Five more regular-season games follow before the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Second place is not secure, and neither the club nor the league has said a playoff berth is clinched. A strong run would improve their seeding for the knockout rounds.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many goals has Messi scored in MLS this season?

Messi has 23 league goals and 13 assists this season after scoring twice against D.C. United. He leads the Golden Boot race by four goals, according to MLS.

Who scored in Inter Miami’s 4-0 win over D.C. United?

Luis Suárez scored in the 3rd and 39th minutes. Lionel Messi scored in the 47th and 60th minutes.

Does Messi still play for Argentina?

No. Messi has retired from Argentina’s national team, and MLS said his final international match was against Benin.

When does Inter Miami play next?

Inter Miami host New York City FC at Nu Stadium on Wednesday, 14 October, at 7:30 p.m. ET. Six regular-season games remain in total.

Sources: Inter Miami CF, match recap; Major League Soccer; Infobae (all accessed 11 October 2026).