Lionel Messi struck twice and set up another for Jordi Alba to lead Inter Miami to a 4–0 victory over Atlanta United at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday night (Oct 11), a result that locks in at least the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference and keeps the Herons in the hunt for No. 2.

Messi broke the deadlock in the 39th minute, cushioning a Baltasar Rodríguez cross before curling into the far top corner. He then released Alba with a raking diagonal in the 52nd minute for Miami’s second, and finished the scoring in the 87th after a give-and-go with the Spanish full-back. Luis Suárez added the third in the 61st, capitalising on a miscued clearance. 

The win came despite both sides missing players during the international window; Messi, who skipped Argentina’s friendly in Miami, started and now leads MLS with 26 goals, while his 18th assist brings him level atop the league charts with San Diego FC’s Anders Dreyer. 

Atlanta, eliminated by Miami in last season’s first round, slumped to a third straight defeat and is winless in five. The visitors also lost centre-back Stian Gregersen to an apparent hamstring issue in the 14th minute. Jayden Hibbert started in goal for Atlanta; Rocco Ríos Novo kept the clean sheet for Miami. 

Saturday’s match was Inter Miami’s final MLS regular-season game at Chase Stadium before the club’s planned move to Miami Freedom Park in 2026. 

Scoring summary: Messi 39' (Rodríguez), Alba 52' (Messi), Suárez 61', Messi 87' (Alba). 

Key numbers: Miami 4–0 Atlanta; Messi 2 goals, 1 assist; Alba 1 goal, 1 assist. MLS leaders: Messi 26 goals; assists co-lead at 18 (Messi, Dreyer). 

Source: Al Jazeera

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