Lionel Messi scored twice as Inter Miami made it back-to-back MLS wins with a narrow 3-2 victory over DC United.
2025 Major League Soccer
3-2
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
0' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs D.C. United
10' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs D.C. United
24' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs D.C. United
35' GOAL! Inter Miami CF 1-0 D.C. United (Tadeo Allende)
52' GOAL! Inter Miami CF 1-1 D.C. United (Christian Benteke)
55' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs D.C. United
60' Highlight from Inter Miami CF vs D.C. United
66' GOAL! Inter Miami CF 2-1 D.C. United (Lionel Messi)
72' Penalty Missed! (Mateo Silvetti)
82' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs D.C. United
85' GOAL! Inter Miami CF 3-1 D.C. United (Lionel Messi)
88' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs D.C. United
Match Report
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner took his league tally for the season to 22 goals, helping Javier Mascherano's side edge a five-goal thriller at Chase Stadium.
Messi also provided an assist for compatriot Tadeo Allende, with the latter latching onto his team-mate's sublime throughball to break the deadlock in the 35th minute.
However, Christian Benteke got DC back on level terms seven minutes in the second half, heading in from Brendan Servania's outswinging cross.
Nevertheless, Messi restored the hosts' lead midway through the period, receiving the ball on the turn from Jordi Alba before slotting home.
Miami squandered a great chance to make it 3-1 in the 72nd minute when Mateo Silvetti, who was brought down by goalkeeper Luis Barraza, rattled the crossbar from the penalty spot.
Yet, Messi curled in from the edge of the box in trademark fashion five minutes from time, with the hosts subsequently seeing out victory despite Jacob Murrell's neat finish in the 97th minute.
With two goals and an assist against D.C. United, @InterMiamiCF forward Lionel Messi recorded his 16th game with at least one goal and one assist, tying Carlos Vela (16) for the second-most in a player’s first three MLS seasons and trailing only Preki (17). pic.twitter.com/gIXVYaCSRs
— MLS Communications (@MLS_PR) September 21, 2025
Data Debrief: Yet another multiple for Messi
This was Messi's 16th game with at least one goal and one assist, tying Carlos Vela for the second-most in a player's first three MLS seasons and trailing only Preki (17).
It was also the 10th match since the beginning of July - for club and country - in which he recorded multiple direct goal involvements, having done so on just four occasions between January and June this year.
As for Miami, they equalled their own record from last season of 20 matches won across all competitions in a single campaign when conceding at least one goal.
Line-ups
Inter Miami CF XI: Óscar Ustari, Messi, Alba, Busquets, De Paul, Maximiliano Falcón, Marcelo Weigandt, Tadeo Allende, Gonzalo Luján, Noah Allen, Yannick Bright
Subs: Rocco Ríos Novo, Telasco Segovia, Ian Fray, Ryan Sailor, Baltasar Rodríguez, Tomás Avilés, Santiago Morales, Dániel Pintér, Mateo Silvetti
D.C. United XI: Benteke, Kye Rowles, Aarón Herrera, Luis Barraza, Brandon Servania, David Schnegg, Conner Antley, Peglow, Gabriel Pirani, Jackson Hopkins, Lucas Bartlett
Subs: Jordan Farr, Jared Stroud, Boris Enow, Joon-hong Kim, Caden Clark, Rida Zouhir, Derek Dodson, Jacob Murrell, Hosei Kijima