Inter Miami cruised to a comfortable 4-0 victory over Atlanta United, powered by another brilliant performance from Lionel Messi. The Argentine star scored twice and assisted once, setting a new MLS record for the most goals in a single season without a penalty.
No player in league history had ever reached 26 goals without scoring from the spot. If Messi avoids penalties in the final match and still finishes as the top scorer, he will be the first player in MLS history to achieve the feat.
The match began with Miami pressing high in the opening minutes. Atlanta, fielding a young squad, showed early defensive focus. Goalkeeper Jayden Hibbert made several strong saves, including a remarkable stop against Messi in the 21st minute after a clever lobbed pass from Sergio Busquets.
However, Atlanta suffered a setback when captain Stian Gregersen left the field injured in the 15th minute. His replacement, Sal Mazzaferro, made his MLS debut under heavy pressure from Miami’s attack.
In the 39th minute, Atlanta lost the ball in midfield, allowing Messi to seize the moment. He curled a left-footed shot into the corner of the net, breaking the deadlock. Before halftime, Hibbert made more saves from Messi and Suárez, keeping Atlanta in the game as the first half ended 1-0.
Atlanta tried to respond after the break with an aggressive high press. But in the 52nd minute, Messi produced a stunning lobbed pass from his own half to Jordi Alba, who sprinted past the defense and chipped Hibbert for Miami’s second goal.
Atlanta had a rare chance to pull one back soon after, but Jamal Thiaré missed from close range. Miami punished the visitors again in the 61st minute when Luis Suárez finished from inside the box after a quick counter-attack.
Atlanta continued to fight, but their efforts lacked precision. Latte Lath came close with a lobbed attempt, but it flew just over the bar. Miami sealed the result in the 84th minute when Alba returned the favor to Messi, sending a long pass that the Argentine controlled and finished calmly to make it 4-0.
With this win, Inter Miami confirmed home advantage for Round 1 of the MLS Cup Playoffs and now sits third in the Eastern Conference with 62 points. Atlanta United remains 14th with 27 points, with one more match left at home against D.C. United.
Messi’s record-breaking season continues to redefine MLS standards. His consistency, without a single penalty goal, highlights one of the most remarkable scoring runs in league history.
