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Lionel Messi scored in the 47th and 60th minutes as Inter Miami won 4-0, with Luis Suárez also recording a brace to end the club’s five-match winless run.
Lionel Messi marked his return to club football after retiring from international duty with Argentina by scoring twice in Inter Miami’s 4-0 victory over D.C. United in Major League Soccer on Saturday.
The Argentine captain found the net in the 47th and 60th minutes after former Uruguay striker Luis Suárez scored twice in the first half at Nu Stadium in Miami.
The victory ended Inter Miami’s five-match winless run and gave new coach Cristian González his first league win since taking charge in September.
Messi played the full 90 minutes, just four days after appearing in his farewell match for Argentina, bringing an end to his 21-year international career.
Suárez Gives Miami Early Control
Inter Miami started aggressively, with Suárez opening the scoring in the third minute.
The former Barcelona and Liverpool striker finished after Germán Berterame helped create the opportunity, giving Miami an early advantage.
Suárez doubled the lead in the 39th minute after Berterame recovered a rebound and directed the ball into his path inside the penalty area.
The brace gave Miami a comfortable 2-0 lead at half-time and placed D.C. United under pressure before the break.
Suárez’s contribution also set the stage for Messi to take control after the restart.
Messi Completes The Rout With Second-Half Brace
Messi extended Miami’s advantage in the 47th minute, finishing from close range after Suárez helped create the opening.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner struck again in the 60th minute. He collected a pass from Rodrigo De Paul, moved past defenders and beat goalkeeper Sean Johnson with a shot from inside the penalty area.
The goals took Messi’s MLS tally to 23 for the season, keeping him at the top of the league’s scoring chart at the time of the match.
Suárez and Messi each finished with two goals, while Berterame contributed two assists as Miami recorded a clean-sheet victory.
The result offered a timely boost for a side seeking consistency during the closing stages of the regular season.
Argentina Farewell Marks End Of International Era
The match came four days after Messi’s final appearance for Argentina in a friendly against Benin.
During his international career, Messi scored 126 goals in 208 appearances, becoming Argentina’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player.
He also captained the national team to the 2022 FIFA World Cup title in Qatar and helped Argentina win the Copa América in 2021 and 2024.
His retirement from international football leaves him focused on his club career with Inter Miami, where he continues to pursue further success in MLS.
Although his Argentina chapter has ended, his performance against D.C. United demonstrated that he remains a central figure in Miami’s attack.
Inter Miami Strengthen Their MLS Position
The victory lifted Inter Miami to second place in the Eastern Conference with 49 points, according to match reports published after the game.
Miami had struggled to secure victories in the weeks before the match, making the four-goal performance an important response.
The result also gave González an encouraging start to his league campaign as head coach. His challenge will be to build on the performance and help Miami maintain consistency through the remaining fixtures.
Inter Miami are seeking another MLS title, having won the championship in the previous season. Achieving that ambition will require continued contributions from Messi and Suárez, as well as greater consistency across the squad.
For Messi, the brace provided a memorable beginning to the next phase of his career after his farewell to Argentina. For Miami, the victory offered renewed momentum as the club pursues its domestic ambitions.
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