Lionel Messi Scores Two Spectacular Goals, First Time Since International Retirement. Watch

Lionel Messi scored two goals for Inter Miami© X (Twitter)

Lionel Messi scored two goals to give him a league-leading 23 this season, and Inter Miami beat D.C. United 4-0 on Saturday night. Luis Suárez also scored twice and Germán Berterame had two assists for Inter Miami, which snapped a five-match winless skid. Miami had four draws and one loss before Saturday's outburst. Four days after playing his farewell match that ended a 21-year tenure with the Argentine national team, Messi played the entire 90 minutes. The win was Miami's first since a 7-1 rout of CF Montreal on Aug. 29. It was also the first league win for new coach Cristian “Kily” González, who took over Sept. 16.

D.C. United is winless in its last five matches.

Messi scored his first in the 47th minute after Suarez tallied twice in the first half to give Inter Miami a 2-0 lead at the break. Suárez centered a pass near the 6-yard box, where Messi retrieved it and tapped in a shot inside the right post.

Inter Miami padded its lead when Messi struck again in the 60th minute. He received Rodrigo De Paul's pass, dribbled inside the large area and eluded two United defenders to beat goalkeeper Sean Johnson with a shot from 12 yards.

Messi's left foot is magical https://t.co/Rn7ssoM5UP

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 21, 2025

Messi magic Two goals for the World Cup Champion. https://t.co/PMA1l5tyZk

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 11, 2026

Inter Miami's first scoring threat resulted in Suarez's goal three minutes into the match. Suárez received Berterame's header and beat Johnson with a shot that landed inside the left post.

Suarez made it 2-0 with his second goal in the 39th minute. Johnson deflected Messi's point-blank shot to an open Berterame, who fed Suárez with another header that he retrieved inside the 6-yard box. Suárez then tapped in a shot for his brace.

Inter Miami hosts New York City FC on Wednesday night.

D.C. United faces the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday night.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Featured Video Of The Day

Spain's Royal Family Welcomes World Cup Champions To Zarzuela Palace