Lionel Messi scored twice in a four-minute span during the second half to lead Inter Miami to a 3-1 victory over Atlanta United at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, October 17, 2026. The match, officiated by Allen Chapman, saw the visitors secure three points in this clash corresponding to the 31st round of the Eastern Conference. The result keeps Inter Miami safely entrenched in second place in the Eastern Conference with 55 points, moving the club closer to securing home-field advantage for the upcoming Major League Soccer playoffs. Fans looking to follow match updates and statistics can utilize the 365Scores app.

German Berterame Opens Scoring Before Messi Takes Over

The visiting side broke the deadlock just before halftime. At the 45-minute mark, Messi found teammate Luis Suárez inside the penalty area, and the Uruguayan forward chipped a delicate ball over the defense to set up Germán Berterame. The Mexican attacker finished with a strong header past goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos to give Inter Miami a 1-0 lead going into the break. The strike marked Berterame’s ninth goal of the campaign and his second scoring appearance.

Inter Miami manager Cristian “Kily” González deployed a lineup featuring Rodrigo De Paul, David Ayala, Matías Galarza Fonda, Gonzalo Luján, Casemiro, Micael, Sergio Reguilón, Luis Suárez, and Germán Berterame alongside Messi. In addition to Messi and Berterame, the manager included other Argentine players in his rotation, namely Rodrigo De Paul, Gonzalo Luján, David Ayala, Maximiliano Falcón, and Facundo Mura. The tactical setup relied on defensive structure to neutralize Atlanta United’s attacking threats, including Swiss forward Breel Embolo and Paraguayan midfielder Miguel Almirón.

Two Goals in Four Minutes Lift Messi Toward Career Milestone

Messi put the match out of reach shortly after the interval. At 56 minutes, the Inter Miami captain played a quick give-and-go with Berterame before firing a precise cross-shot past the Atlanta defense.

The brace brought Messi to 936 official goals in his professional career, narrowing the gap in the long-running scoring race against Al Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who holds 981 career goals. Messi maintains a lead in the 2026 calendar year with 40 goals across club and international competition compared to Ronaldo’s 24, a 16-goal advantage for the Argentine in that period. Meanwhile, manager Cristian González expressed admiration for his captain’s longevity during his postmatch press conference, stating that the forward continues to surprise the football world simply because he enjoys playing. His performance reignited discussions regarding the race between the two contemporary icons: who will reach 1,000 goals first?

Late Penalty Cuts Deficit as Atlanta United Falters in Standings

Atlanta United found a consolation goal in the 89th minute when Fafá Picault converted from the penalty spot to make it 3-1. Despite the late push from the home side, Inter Miami maintained its defensive composure to secure the three points. The defeat leaves Atlanta United in penultimate place in the Eastern Conference with 30 points, severely damaging the club’s chances of reaching the postseason.

Following the match, Atlanta United head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino offered high praise for his former player, telling reporters that Messi remains alongside Diego Maradona as one of the most important figures in the history of the sport. Tiene 39 años, ¡y decide un partido en la semifinal gracias a un esfuerzo individual, declared Martino. The two have a long history, having coincided in the Argentina national team from 2014 to 2016, at Inter Miami from 2023 to 2024, and during a brief period at Barcelona in 2013. The victory gives Inter Miami 55 points, leaving the Florida club 11 points behind conference leaders Nashville SC as the regular-season schedule draws to a close.