Messi and Alba shine: Miami routs and Messi seeks the Golden Boot

Messi leads Inter Miami to victory with a brace

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, shone in the last regular season home game. Messi, called up by Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni for the October friendlies against Venezuela and Puerto Rico, surprised by playing with Inter Miami. The team’s coach, Javier Mascherano, confirmed that there was an agreement with Scaloni to allow Messi to participate in this crucial MLS match.

“I spoke with Scaloni, and he told me that 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 that,” explained Mascherano.

Javier Mascherano, coach of Inter Miami

The team captain didn’t disappoint and scored the first goal of the match with a spectacular shot that went into the upper left corner. In addition, he assisted his teammate Jordi Alba for the second goal, demonstrating once again his unparalleled talent and game vision. Jordi Alba, who announced his retirement from football at the end of the 2025 MLS season, received an emotional tribute after the match. Luis Suárez and Messi himself completed the rout, with the Argentine’s second goal raising his personal tally to 26 goals for the season. Messi is now only two goals behind LAFC forward Denis Bouanga in the race for the MLS Golden Boot. Mascherano highlighted Messi’s dedication, who, despite not training with the team during the week, proved his worth on the field. The match was attended by several players from the Argentinian national team, including Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Nicolás Otamendi and Giovani Lo Celso, who celebrated each goal from the sidelines. Inter Miami, currently tied in points with FC Cincinnati, is preparing for the last regular season match next Saturday, where they will face Nashville. The fans are eagerly awaiting Messi’s possible participation in Tuesday’s friendly against Puerto Rico, hoping to see the Argentine star continue his scoring streak.