Messi's brace fires Inter Miami to 3-1 win over Atlanta United
Synopsis
Lionel Messi didn't just win the game — he rewrote the record books. His brace against Atlanta United took him to 25 league goals and extended an MLS assists record no one has held before: 15 assists in three straight seasons. Suárez quietly hit 100 goal contributions for the club on the same night. Inter Miami are rolling at the right time.
Key Takeaways
Inter Miami beat Atlanta United FC 3-1 on 18 October , their third straight MLS regular-season victory.
Lionel Messi scored in the 56th and 60th minutes to complete a brace, taking his season tally to 25 goals and extending his MLS Golden Boot lead.
Messi's secondary assist in the 45th minute made him the first player in MLS history to record at least 15 assists in three consecutive seasons.
German Berterame opened the scoring with his 9th goal of the season and later added his 10th assist .
Luis Suárez registered his 11th and 12th assists of the campaign, becoming only the second player to reach 100 goal contributions for Inter Miami.
Fafa Picault converted a late penalty for Atlanta in the 89th minute but could not alter the result.
Lionel Messi struck twice and German Berterame added a goal as Inter Miami defeated Atlanta United FC 3-1 away on 18 October, claiming a third consecutive MLS regular-season victory. The result underlined the Florida club's late-season momentum and cemented Messi's status as the competition's most productive attacking force.
How the Goals Arrived
The match was evenly contested in the early exchanges before Inter Miami's attack asserted control. Messi threatened first in the 41st minute with a free kick that the Atlanta goalkeeper tipped over at the top-right corner. The opener came just before half-time when Berterame guided a header into the net from inside the penalty area in the 45th minute, latching onto a precise cross delivered from the right by Luis Suárez.
The goal was Berterame's ninth of the regular season, while Suárez's delivery was his 11th assist of the campaign. Notably, Messi earned a secondary assist on the move — a touch that carried historic weight, lifting his tally to 15 assists this regular season and making him the first player in MLS history to record at least 15 assists in three consecutive seasons.
Messi Seals It with a Brace
Inter Miami doubled their advantage in the 56th minute when Messi collected the ball wide on the right, drove into the attacking third, combined in a quick give-and-go with Berterame, and drilled a grounded left-footed finish from the left side of the box. It was his 24th league goal of the season, with the assist being Berterame's 10th.
Messi added his second — and Inter Miami's third — in the 60th minute, taking his season tally to 25 goals and extending his lead in the race for the MLS Golden Boot. The assist was Suárez's 12th of the campaign and marked a landmark for the club: Suárez became only the second player to reach 100 goal contributions for Inter Miami.
Atlanta's Late Consolation
Atlanta United pulled one back through a Fafa Picault penalty in the 89th minute, but the 3-1 scoreline held through the final whistle. The late strike was the only blemish on what was an otherwise controlled performance by the visitors.
What It Means for Inter Miami
The three-match winning run arrives at a crucial juncture of the MLS season and signals that Inter Miami, built around one of football's all-time great players, remain a formidable force. With Messi's assist record already rewritten and his Golden Boot lead growing, the team's trajectory heading into the final stretch of the regular season will be closely watched by clubs across the Eastern Conference.
Point of View
He is statistically dominating it in ways no one has before. The real question for the Eastern Conference is whether any club has the defensive structure to contain a combination attack where Messi, Suárez, and Berterame are each in double figures for both goals and assists. On current form, that looks increasingly difficult.
NationPress
18 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score between Inter Miami and Atlanta United on 18 October?
Inter Miami defeated Atlanta United FC 3-1 away on 18 October in the MLS regular season. The result gave Inter Miami their third consecutive win.
How many goals has Messi scored in MLS this season?
Messi has scored 25 goals in the MLS regular season as of 18 October, following his brace against Atlanta United. He leads the race for the MLS Golden Boot.
What MLS record did Messi break against Atlanta United?
Messi became the first player in MLS history to record at least 15 assists in three consecutive regular seasons. He reached the milestone with a secondary assist on Berterame's opening goal in the 45th minute.
Who scored the other goals for Inter Miami?
German Berterame scored Inter Miami's first goal — a header in the 45th minute assisted by Luis Suárez. Berterame's tally for the season stands at 9 goals and 10 assists.
What milestone did Luis Suárez reach against Atlanta United?
Suárez became only the second player to reach 100 goal contributions for Inter Miami, achieving the landmark with his 12th assist of the current campaign.
