D.C. United 1-2 Inter Miami CF: De Paul and Messi on target in nervy MLS win

Lionel Messi was on target as Inter Miami made it back-to-back MLS victories with a hard-fought 2-1 win over D.C. United at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday. 

Match Report

Lionel Messi was on target as Inter Miami made it back-to-back MLS victories with a hard-fought 2-1 win over D.C. United at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday. 

After losing their season-opener to Los Angeles FC, Javier Mascherano's side followed up their triumph over Orlando City SC with another huge victory on their travels. 

After testing Sean Johnson early on, Rodrigo De Paul opened the scoring in the 17th minute when he collected Telasco Segovia's pass before picking out the top corner. 

Miami's continued dominance was rewarded 10 minutes later by Messi, who after racing on to Mateo Silvetti's ball in behind, dinked perfectly over the on-rushing Johnson. 

The Argentine almost added a stunning third for Miami after weaving in from the right-hand side. However, his curling strike at goal beat Johnson, but also evaded the far post. 

D.C. threatened a nervy final 15 minutes when Jackson Hopkins' shot was saved by Dayne St. Clair, only for the ball to drop for Tai Baribo to tuck home from close range. 

Miami came close to altering the scoreline late on as German Berterame's header was gathered by Johnson, with the visitors holding on for the minutes that remained. 

Data Debrief: Magic Messi edges closer to another milestone

Messi continued his fine start to the 2026 MLS season, with his goal here making it three in as many games to start the campaign. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is also now one goal away from reaching 900 across his career, a landmark only Cristiano Ronaldo has surpassed. 

The Miami captain also finished the match with a team-high total of passes in the final third (27), though he cut a frustrated figure at full-time as his team finished with an expected goals (xG) total of just 0.98 from their eight shots to D.C.'s 1.59 from their 15 attempts in a tale of two halves. 

Baribo also impressed for his new team with another goal. Indeed, he became the first player to score in each of his first two home league matches for D.C. since Luis Silva, who did so between July and August 2013. 

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

7' Match Event for D.C. United vs Inter Miami CF

15' Highlight from D.C. United vs Inter Miami CF

17' GOAL! D.C. United 0-1 Inter Miami CF (Rodrigo De Paul)

27' GOAL! D.C. United 0-2 Inter Miami CF (Lionel Messi)

37' Match Event for D.C. United vs Inter Miami CF

58' Highlight from D.C. United vs Inter Miami CF

64' Highlight from D.C. United vs Inter Miami CF

71' Match Event for D.C. United vs Inter Miami CF

75' GOAL! D.C. United 1-2 Inter Miami CF (Tai Baribo)

87' Highlight from D.C. United vs Inter Miami CF

92' Highlight from D.C. United vs Inter Miami CF

Line-ups

D.C. United XI: Sean Johnson, Silvan Hefti, Kye Rowles, Tai Baribo, Brandon Servania, Peglow, Keisuke Kurokawa, Matti Peltola, Gabriel Pirani, Jackson Hopkins, Lucas Bartlett

Subs: Alex Bono, Sean Nealis, Conner Antley, Louis Munteanu, Caden Clark, Gavin Turner, Jacob Murrell, Hosei Kijima, Nikola Marković

Inter Miami CF XI: Messi, De Paul, Germán Berterame, Maximiliano Falcón, Dayne St. Clair, Facundo Mura, Telasco Segovia, Micael, Noah Allen, Yannick Bright, Mateo Silvetti

Subs: Suarez, Rocco Ríos Novo, David Ayala, Tadeo Allende, Gonzalo Luján, Ian Fray, David Ruíz, Ezequiel Abadia-Reda, Dániel Pintér