- Messi scored his 25th and 26th of the goals of the MLS season which pushed him ahead in the Golden Boot standings, overtaking LAFC’s Denis Bouanga.
- Inter Miami climbed to 62 points in the Eastern Conference after the Atlanta United victory, closing in on leaders Philadelphia.
- Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez also found the net, with Alba scoring in his farewell season before retirement.
- The MLS clash marked Inter Miami’s last home game at their current venue before moving to their new Miami Freedom Park stadium.
Lionel Messi was in top form as Inter Miami crushed Atlanta United 4-0 in an electrifying MLS encounter that saw the Argentine superstar reclaim the top spot in the league’s scoring chart.
Messi, who began the match tied with Denis Bouanga on 24 goals, surged ahead after scoring twice to take his tally to 26 this season. His first goal in the 39th minute was a masterpiece, curling a left-footed strike into the top corner after Baltasar Rodriguez intercepted a loose ball and found him just outside the box.
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Atlanta goalkeeper Jayden Hibbert had earlier denied Messi in the 13th minute, but there was no stopping the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner this time.
In the second half, Messi turned provider, sending a clever pass to Jordi Alba, who chipped the ball over Hibbert to make it 2-0 in the 52nd minute. The goal was a fitting tribute to Alba, who recently announced his retirement at the end of the MLS season.
Luis Suarez added a third in the 61st minute, and Messi wrapped up the scoring in the 87th minute with a precise finish from the center of the box after another assist from Alba.
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The match also marked Inter Miami’s final home game at their current stadium, as they prepare to move into the new Miami Freedom Park next season.
Meanwhile, in another MLS fixture, Thomas Muller secured a dramatic win for the Vancouver Whitecaps with a last-minute strike, giving them a 2-1 victory over Orlando City and pushing them to the top of the Western Conference table. Muller, 36, has now scored seven times in eight appearances since joining MLS.
