Lionel Messi proved he is still the king of Major League Soccer just four days after hanging up his Argentina jersey. He scored two goals to lead Inter Miami to a crushing 4-0 victory over D.C. United on Saturday night. This win snaps a five-match winless streak and puts the team back in the hunt for a top playoff seed.
The 39-year-old superstar is not slowing down. He now has 23 goals this season, leading the entire league by a wide margin. According to Fox Sports, this performance cements his case as the favorite to win a third straight MVP award. His return to form shows that his focus is now fully on winning another MLS Cup with Miami.
A Dominant Start for New Coach Kily
Inter Miami needed this win badly after a rough patch of four draws and one loss. Cristian “Kily” González, the new coach who assumed control in mid-September, celebrated his first league win with this victory. The team looked sharp from the start, with Luis Suárez scoring twice in the first half to build a 2-0 lead.
Messi joined the party shortly after the break. He scored in the 47th minute after Suárez set him up with a simple pass. He added his second goal in the 60th minute with a brilliant solo effort. He dribbled past two defenders and beat the goalkeeper with a precise shot from 12 yards out. This display was a reminder of why he is the best player in the world.
Why His Retirement Changes Everything
Messi brought his curtain down on his Argentina career earlier this week in Buenos Aires. He scored his 126th and final goal for the country in a friendly match. Now, he has a contract with Miami through 2028, so his future is secure in Florida. His coach, Cristian “Kily” González, knows exactly how to handle this situation.
“He’ll be missed in that jersey, of course, but today we have him here, and we have to enjoy having him with us now,” Kily said this week. The sentiment is simple: stop worrying about the past and watch him dominate the present. In 10 straight MLS games, he has already registered a goal contribution.
Inter Miami now sits second in the Eastern Conference, just behind the leaders. They need a top-four seed to secure home-field advantage for the playoffs, which begin next month. With Messi contributing 13 assists and 23 goals, the team is well on its way to becoming the first to win back-to-back titles since 2011. The next test comes on Wednesday night when they host New York City FC.
