Lionel Messi Leads Inter Miami to Thrilling Victory Over D.C. United

On a night electrified by star power and relentless drama, Inter Miami battled past a resilient D.C. United squad, clinching a pulsating 3-2 victory that sent fans in Chase Stadium into wild celebration. The magician himself, Lionel Messi, delivered yet another masterclass, netting a dazzling brace and providing a sublime assist to keep the Herons soaring in the MLS playoff race. From the opening whistle, the tension was palpable. D.C. United, under the fresh stewardship of René Weiler, arrived with compact defensive lines and a point to prove. Yet, it was Messi who broke through their armor. In the 35th minute, the Argentine maestro spotted Tadeo Allende sprinting into space, and with a visionary long ball—more reminiscent of a deep-lying playmaker than a forward—he set up the opener. Allende, cool as you like, slotted home to ignite the Miami faithful. But the night was far from straightforward. Early in the second half, Christian Benteke, D.C.’s talismanic striker, soared for a diving header to level the match. His celebration, channeling LeBron James, was a bold statement that the Black and Red would not bow quietly. The drama intensified. Messi, ever the conductor, restored Miami’s lead in the 66th minute after a fluid combination with Jordi Alba. The finish was clinical, the movement classic Messi—drifting from an offside position, turning, and dispatching the ball past Luis Barraza with surgical precision. The Herons nearly extended their lead from the spot after Mateo Silvetti earned a penalty, but the teenager’s effort crashed off the crossbar. Still, Messi’s hunger was unquenched. In the 85th minute, with Miami needing insurance, Sergio Busquets released Messi at the edge of the box. Dancing past defenders, Messi unleashed a rocket to the top corner, his 22nd goal of the season and a strike that pushed him atop the MLS Golden Boot race, just ahead of Nashville’s Sam Surridge. Though D.C. United clawed one back through substitute Jacob Murrell in stoppage time, the night belonged to Messi and Inter Miami. With this win, the Herons celebrated their first consecutive league victories since July, moving firmly into fifth place in the Eastern Conference with three games in hand on leaders Philadelphia Union. At 38, Messi continues to redefine greatness, adding his 173rd career brace and 12th assist to a glittering legacy. His magic lit up the Miami night, and with the postseason beckoning, the Herons look poised to make a deep run. For more details on this thrilling encounter, visit Inter Miami player ratings vs D.C. United: Lionel Messi bails out the Herons.