Messi scores twice in first match since Argentina goodbye

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Lionel Messi has scored a league-high 23 MLS goals this season

Lionel Messi scored twice in his first match since retiring from international football in an emphatic win for Inter Miami against DC United.

Just four days after scoring in his final match for Argentina, where he brought his glittering career with the national team to a close, the 39-year-old helped Miami win for only the second time in 11 MLS matches.

Following a first-half double from former Uruguay striker Luis Suarez, Messi scored in the 47th and 60th minutes to complete the rout.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, who captained Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022, waved goodbye to the national team last week after a record-breaking career.

He scored 126 goals in 208 appearances, making him the country's all-time leading scorer and most-capped player.

Messi's main focus is now on the MLS, where he is hoping to help Miami become the first team to win back-to-back titles since Los Angeles Galaxy in 2011-12.

Former Liverpool and Barcelona striker Suarez opened the scoring in the third minute with a powerful left-footed strike in the area which found the top corner.

The 39-year-old doubled his tally six minutes before half-time for his 16th league goal of the season.

Suarez assisted Messi shortly after the break, before evading three defenders and doubling his tally 13 minutes later.

Messi is the top scorer in the MLS this season with 23 goals, four ahead of FC Dallas striker Petar Musa.

Miami are second in the Eastern Conference, 14 points behind leaders Nashville FC.

Two icons, a glorious farewell and a potentially bitter ending

Major League Soccer Scores & FixturesSunday 11th OctoberAtlanta United 1 , Cincinnati 3 at Full timeAtlanta UnitedAtlanta UnitedAtlanta United13CincinnatiCincinnatiCincinnatiFull timeFTCharlotte 3 , Dallas 2 at Full timeCharlotteCharlotteCharlotte32DallasDallasDallasFull timeFTInter Miami 4 , DC United 0 at Full timeInter MiamiInter MiamiInter Miami40DC UnitedDC UnitedDC UnitedFull timeFTNew England 0 , Seattle Sounders 3 at Full timeNew EnglandNew EnglandNew England03SoundersSeattle SoundersSeattle SoundersFull timeFTNew York RB 4 , San Diego 1 at Full timeNew YorkNew York RBNew York RB41San DiegoSan DiegoSan DiegoFull timeFTOrlando City 3 , Columbus Crew 2 at Full timeOrlandoOrlando CityOrlando City32ColumbusColumbus CrewColumbus CrewFull timeFTPhiladelphia Union 2 , Real Salt Lake 1 at Full timePhiladelphiaPhiladelphia UnionPhiladelphia Union21Salt LakeReal Salt LakeReal Salt LakeFull timeFTAustin 1 , Nashville SC 4 at Full timeAustinAustinAustin14NashvilleNashville SCNashville SCFull timeFTMinnesota United 2 , Houston Dynamo 2 at Full timeMinnesotaMinnesota UnitedMinnesota United22HoustonHouston DynamoHouston DynamoFull timeFTSporting KC 3 , Portland Timbers 3 at Full timeSporting KCSporting KCSporting KC33PortlandPortland TimbersPortland TimbersFull timeFTColorado Rapids 1 , SJ Earthquakes 1 at Full timeColoradoColorado RapidsColorado Rapids11EarthquakesSJ EarthquakesSJ EarthquakesFull timeFTLos Angeles 1 , Vancouver Whitecaps 1 at Full timeLAFCLos AngelesLos Angeles11WhitecapsVancouver WhitecapsVancouver WhitecapsFull timeFTView all Major League Soccer fixturesMajor League Soccer TableOn Sunday 11th OctoberSearchSkip to table keyMatch Participants:Inter Miami, Position 2, Points 49DC United, Position 12, Points 30Eastern ConferenceTeamPlayedWonDrawnLostGoals ForGoals AgainstGoal DifferencePointsForm, Last 6 games, Oldest first1Nashville SC28196359223763DResult DrawLResult LossDResult DrawWResult WinWResult WinWResult Win2Inter Miami281310568501849DResult DrawDResult DrawDResult DrawDResult DrawLResult LossWResult Win3Chicago Fire28146851401148DResult DrawLResult LossLResult LossWResult WinWResult WinWResult Win4New England28144104539646LResult LossWResult WinWResult WinWResult WinLResult LossLResult Loss5Charlotte28137850401046DResult DrawWResult WinDResult DrawWResult WinLResult LossWResult Win6Philadelphia Union281261056451142WResult WinWResult WinWResult WinWResult WinWResult WinWResult Win7Orlando City28114135166-1537WResult WinWResult WinWResult WinLResult LossLResult LossWResult Win8New York RB28106123852-1436DResult DrawLResult LossWResult WinWResult WinLResult LossWResult Win9Cincinnati279995865-736LResult LossLResult LossDResult DrawDResult DrawLResult LossWResult Win10New York City2889114238433DResult DrawLResult LossWResult WinLResult LossDResult DrawLResult Loss11Toronto28711104152-1132DResult DrawWResult WinLResult LossLResult LossLResult LossWResult Win12DC United2761293446-1230DResult DrawWResult WinDResult DrawLResult LossDResult DrawLResult Loss13Columbus Crew2885154146-529WResult WinLResult LossLResult LossWResult WinWResult WinLResult Loss14Atlanta United2876153348-1527DResult DrawLResult LossDResult DrawWResult WinDResult DrawLResult Loss15Montréal2866163556-2124LResult LossLResult LossLResult LossLResult LossWResult WinLResult LossView latest Major League Soccer tableWestern ConferenceTeamPlayedWonDrawnLostGoals ForGoals AgainstGoal DifferencePointsForm, Last 6 games, Oldest first1Vancouver Whitecaps28156761303151WResult WinLResult LossWResult WinDResult DrawLResult LossDResult Draw2St. Louis City27138648361247DResult DrawWResult WinDResult DrawWResult WinWResult WinWResult Win3Dallas2813875245747WResult WinWResult WinWResult WinDResult DrawWResult WinLResult Loss4SJ Earthquakes28137850401046DResult DrawWResult WinWResult WinDResult DrawWResult WinDResult Draw5Houston Dynamo2813693634245DResult DrawWResult WinLResult LossDResult DrawLResult LossDResult Draw6Los Angeles29119944311342DResult DrawWResult WinLResult LossDResult DrawLResult LossDResult Draw7Seattle Sounders2811893835341DResult DrawDResult DrawWResult WinWResult WinWResult WinWResult Win8Colorado Rapids28114133939037LResult LossDResult DrawWResult WinDResult DrawLResult LossDResult Draw9LA Galaxy2899103744-736LResult LossWResult WinLResult LossDResult DrawWResult WinWResult Win10Portland Timbers2896135154-333WResult WinDResult DrawLResult LossLResult LossLResult LossDResult Draw11Real Salt Lake2895144146-532LResult LossLResult LossLResult LossLResult LossWResult WinLResult Loss12San Diego2888124851-332LResult LossLResult LossLResult LossDResult DrawDResult DrawLResult Loss13Austin28710113651-1531DResult DrawDResult DrawWResult WinDResult DrawDResult DrawLResult Loss14Minnesota United2879124251-930LResult LossLResult LossLResult LossLResult LossLResult LossDResult Draw15Sporting KC2864183568-3322LResult LossWResult WinLResult LossWResult WinLResult LossDResult DrawView latest Major League Soccer tableKeyPosition 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 : Final SeriesPosition 8, 9 : Final Series Play-offsLast Updated 11th October 2026 at 05:37

Number9797, St. Clair, GoalkeeperSt. ClairNumber22, Luján, DefenderLujánNumber55, Casemiro, DefenderCasemiroNumber1616, Micael, DefenderMicaelNumber33, Reguilón, DefenderReguilónNumber77, De Paul, MidfielderDe PaulNumber2222, Ayala, MidfielderAyalaNumber8080, Galarza, MidfielderGalarzaNumber1010, Messi, StrikerMessiNumber99, Suárez, StrikerSuárezNumber1919, Berterame, StrikerBerterameStarting lineupNumber9797, St. Clair, GoalkeeperD. St. Clair Number33, Reguilón, DefenderSergio Reguilón I. Fray 78', substituted for I. Fray at 78 minutesNumber1616, Micael, DefenderMicael M. Falcón 70', substituted for M. Falcón at 70 minutesNumber55, Casemiro, DefenderCasemiro Number22, Luján, DefenderG. Luján Number8080, Galarza, MidfielderM. Galarza Number2222, Ayala, MidfielderD. Ayala T. Segovia 70', substituted for T. Segovia at 70 minutesNumber77, De Paul, MidfielderR. De Paul A. Shaw 78', substituted for A. Shaw at 78 minutesNumber1919, Berterame, StrikerG. Berterame Number99, Suárez, StrikerL. Suárez Riquelme Fillipi 61', substituted for Riquelme Fillipi at 61 minutesNumber1010, Messi, StrikerL. Messi (c), CaptainSubstituteshome team, Inter MiamiNumber7676, Abadia-Reda, SubstituteC. Abadia-Reda Number3737, Falcón, SubstituteM. Falcón Number1717, Fray, SubstituteI. Fray Number1111, Riquelme Fillipi, SubstituteRiquelme Fillipi Number5656, Pintér, SubstituteD. Pintér Number5959, Plambeck, SubstituteP. Plambeck Number3434, Ríos Novo, SubstituteR. Ríos Novo Number88, Segovia, SubstituteT. Segovia Number8888, Shaw, SubstituteA. Shaw away team, DC UnitedManager: René Weiler

Number11, Johnson, GoalkeeperJohnsonNumber22, Nono, DefenderNonoNumber33, Bartlett, DefenderBartlettNumber1515, Rowles, DefenderRowlesNumber66, Kurokawa, DefenderKurokawaNumber7777, Kijima, MidfielderKijimaNumber2727, Markovic, MidfielderMarkovicNumber2121, Dozzell, MidfielderDozzellNumber77, Peglow, MidfielderPeglowNumber99, Baribo, StrikerBariboNumber2525, Hopkins, StrikerHopkinsStarting lineupNumber11, Johnson, GoalkeeperS. Johnson Number66, Kurokawa, DefenderK. Kurokawa Number1515, Rowles, DefenderK. Rowles Number33, Bartlett, DefenderL. Bartlett (c), CaptainNumber22, Nono, DefenderK. Nono Number77, Peglow, MidfielderPeglow J. Stroud 80', substituted for J. Stroud at 80 minutesNumber2121, Dozzell, MidfielderA. Dozzell B. Servania 68', substituted for B. Servania at 68 minutesNumber2727, Markovic, MidfielderN. Marković M. Peltola 56', substituted for M. Peltola at 56 minutesNumber7777, Kijima, MidfielderHosei Kijima S. Hefti 68', substituted for S. Hefti at 68 minutesNumber2525, Hopkins, StrikerJ. Hopkins N. Ordaz 56', substituted for N. Ordaz at 56 minutesNumber99, Baribo, StrikerT. Baribo away team, DC UnitedNumber1212, Antley, SubstituteC. Antley Number3232, Avilez, SubstituteO. Avilez Number2626, Bono, SubstituteA. Bono Number55, Hefti, SubstituteS. Hefti Number1313, Nealis, SubstituteS. Nealis Number2222, Ordaz, SubstituteN. Ordaz Number44, Peltola, SubstituteM. Peltola Number88, Stroud, SubstituteJ. Stroud Number2323, Servania, SubstituteB. Servania Inter Miami (active)DC Unitedhome team, Inter MiamiManager: Cristian González

Number9797, St. Clair, GoalkeeperSt. ClairNumber22, Luján, DefenderLujánNumber55, Casemiro, DefenderCasemiroNumber1616, Micael, DefenderMicaelNumber33, Reguilón, DefenderReguilónNumber77, De Paul, MidfielderDe PaulNumber2222, Ayala, MidfielderAyalaNumber8080, Galarza, MidfielderGalarzaNumber1010, Messi, StrikerMessiNumber99, Suárez, StrikerSuárezNumber1919, Berterame, StrikerBerterameStarting lineupNumber9797, St. Clair, GoalkeeperD. St. Clair Number33, Reguilón, DefenderSergio Reguilón I. Fray 78', substituted for I. Fray at 78 minutesNumber1616, Micael, DefenderMicael M. Falcón 70', substituted for M. Falcón at 70 minutesNumber55, Casemiro, DefenderCasemiro Number22, Luján, DefenderG. Luján Number8080, Galarza, MidfielderM. Galarza Number2222, Ayala, MidfielderD. Ayala T. Segovia 70', substituted for T. Segovia at 70 minutesNumber77, De Paul, MidfielderR. De Paul A. Shaw 78', substituted for A. Shaw at 78 minutesNumber1919, Berterame, StrikerG. Berterame Number99, Suárez, StrikerL. Suárez Riquelme Fillipi 61', substituted for Riquelme Fillipi at 61 minutesNumber1010, Messi, StrikerL. Messi (c), CaptainSubstitutesNumber7676, Abadia-Reda, SubstituteC. Abadia-Reda Number3737, Falcón, SubstituteM. Falcón Number1717, Fray, SubstituteI. Fray Number1111, Riquelme Fillipi, SubstituteRiquelme Fillipi Number5656, Pintér, SubstituteD. Pintér Number5959, Plambeck, SubstituteP. Plambeck Number3434, Ríos Novo, SubstituteR. Ríos Novo Number88, Segovia, SubstituteT. Segovia Number8888, Shaw, SubstituteA. Shaw away team, DC UnitedManager: René Weiler

Number11, Johnson, GoalkeeperJohnsonNumber22, Nono, DefenderNonoNumber33, Bartlett, DefenderBartlettNumber1515, Rowles, DefenderRowlesNumber66, Kurokawa, DefenderKurokawaNumber7777, Kijima, MidfielderKijimaNumber2727, Markovic, MidfielderMarkovicNumber2121, Dozzell, MidfielderDozzellNumber77, Peglow, MidfielderPeglowNumber99, Baribo, StrikerBariboNumber2525, Hopkins, StrikerHopkinsStarting lineupNumber11, Johnson, GoalkeeperS. Johnson Number66, Kurokawa, DefenderK. Kurokawa Number1515, Rowles, DefenderK. Rowles Number33, Bartlett, DefenderL. Bartlett (c), CaptainNumber22, Nono, DefenderK. Nono Number77, Peglow, MidfielderPeglow J. Stroud 80', substituted for J. Stroud at 80 minutesNumber2121, Dozzell, MidfielderA. Dozzell B. Servania 68', substituted for B. Servania at 68 minutesNumber2727, Markovic, MidfielderN. Marković M. Peltola 56', substituted for M. Peltola at 56 minutesNumber7777, Kijima, MidfielderHosei Kijima S. Hefti 68', substituted for S. Hefti at 68 minutesNumber2525, Hopkins, StrikerJ. Hopkins N. Ordaz 56', substituted for N. Ordaz at 56 minutesNumber99, Baribo, StrikerT. Baribo SubstitutesNumber1212, Antley, SubstituteC. Antley Number3232, Avilez, SubstituteO. Avilez Number2626, Bono, SubstituteA. Bono Number55, Hefti, SubstituteS. Hefti Number1313, Nealis, SubstituteS. Nealis Number2222, Ordaz, SubstituteN. Ordaz Number44, Peltola, SubstituteM. Peltola Number88, Stroud, SubstituteJ. Stroud Number2323, Servania, SubstituteB. Servania Close ModalMatch OfficialsReferee: Lukasz SzpalaVideo Assistant Referee: Greg DopkaAssistant Referee 1: Cory RichardsonAssistant Referee 2: Nick BalcerFourth Official: Edson CarvajalAssistant VAR Official: Joshua PatlakMatch StatsKey, Inter Miami v DC UnitedInter MiamiKeyDC UnitedBasic StatsOverall possessionMIA61.7�38.3%Inter Miami 61.7� United 38.3%ShotsInter Miami 17DC United 1517Shots15Shots on targetInter Miami 9DC United 29Shots on target2Goalkeeper savesInter Miami 2DC United 52Goalkeeper saves5Fouls committedInter Miami 17DC United 617Fouls committed6CornersInter Miami 4DC United 24Corners2In-depth match statsAttackShotsInter Miami 17DC United 1517Shots15Shots on targetInter Miami 9DC United 29Shots on target2Shots off targetInter Miami 5DC United 95Shots off target9Total offsidesInter Miami 0DC United 10Total offsides1DistributionTotal passesInter Miami 622DC United 373622Total passes373Pass accuracy %Inter Miami 91.3DC United 85.591.3Pass accuracy �.5DefenceTotal tacklesInter Miami 10DC United 1010Total tackles10Won tackle %Inter Miami 70DC United 4070Won tackle @Fouls committedInter Miami 17DC United 617Fouls committed6Total clearancesInter Miami 17DC United 917Total clearances9Head to HeadSeason so farMajor League Soccer