In a magical night at Chase Stadium, Lionel Messi led Inter Miami CF to a resounding 4-0 victory over Atlanta United FC. The Argentine star, after a brief break from his international commitments with the Argentina national team, once again demonstrated his unparalleled talent.
Messi, the hero of the night
Messi, called up by Lionel Scaloni for the October friendlies against Venezuela and Puerto Rico, surprised the football world by participating in the last regular season MLS match at Chase Stadium. Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano revealed that the decision to include Messi was the result of a conversation with Scaloni, who gave the green light for the player to participate in the match.Messi’s impact was immediate. He scored the first goal of the night with a spectacular shot that went into the upper left corner, adding his 25th goal of the season. In addition, he assisted his teammate Jordi Alba for the second goal, demonstrating once again his ability to influence the game.“I spoke with Scaloni, and he told me he was going to release him, that he wasn’t going to use him. I spoke with Leo about letting him play today; there’s not much more to it than that. I didn’t intend to use him yesterday; I wanted to see something else. As the coach said, it was his decision.”
Javier Mascherano
Alba says goodbye with a tribute
Jordi Alba, who announced his retirement from football at the end of the 2025 MLS season, received an emotional tribute after the match. The defender, with an outstanding career, expressed his gratitude to the club and to everyone who has supported him.Luis Suárez and Messi himself, with his second goal of the night, completed the rout. This brace put Messi with 26 goals this season, just two behind Denis Bouanga in the race for the MLS Golden Boot. Coach Mascherano highlighted Messi’s importance to the team and his desire to continue competing at the highest level. Rodrigo De Paul and other Argentinian players celebrated the goals from the bench, while Messi could rejoin the Argentinian national team for the friendly against Puerto Rico. Inter Miami is tied for second place with FC Cincinnati and will face Nashville in the final matchday of the regular season. The excitement of the MLS continues.“I think I’ve had a very good career, being on very comfortable teams in every way. This video reflects the truth that the club has been a pleasant surprise because I saw several directors from various clubs, some coaches I’ve had throughout my career, and the truth is that it has been special and, well, proud of everything I have achieved.”
Jordi Alba
