Messi scores twice in Inter Miami win at Atlanta, reaches MLS assists milestone

Lionel Messi scored twice in four second-half minutes as Inter Miami beat Atlanta United 3-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, October 17. Major League Soccer also credited him with an assist on Miami’s opening goal, making him the first player in league history to record at least 15 assists in three consecutive seasons.

How Inter Miami beat Atlanta United 3-1

Germán Berterame put Miami ahead in the 45th minute. MLS credited Messi with a secondary assist on the goal. Messi then made it 2-0 in the 56th minute, moving in from the right, exchanging passes with Berterame near the penalty area and finishing with his left foot, according to ESPN.

Messi’s assists record and Miami’s playoff position

MLS said the assist on Berterame’s opener took Messi to 15 for the season. Its account identified him as the first MLS player to reach that mark in three straight seasons. The record came in a match in which his two goals put Miami firmly ahead before Atlanta’s late response.

Miami had secured a playoff berth earlier in the week and stood second in the Eastern Conference after the Atlanta match, according to MLS. The league reported that the club had 55 points and had won its past three games by a combined score of 9-1. Miami is seeking a second consecutive MLS Cup title; MLS said no team has won back-to-back titles since the LA Galaxy in 2011 and 2012.

Miami coach Cristian ‘Kily’ González praised Messi after the match. ‘I can't believe this guy does what he does at 39 years of age,’ González said, according to MLS. He said his aim was for the team to keep improving and credited its performance away from home against an Atlanta side that needed a win.