Inter Miami vs DC United player ratings — Messi nets brace in first match since Argentina retirement

Lionel Messi (left) scored goals in the 47th and the 60th minute during Inter Miami’s 4-0 win over D.C. United at Miami Freedom Park on Saturday in Miami. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

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 August 29. It was also the first league win for new coach Cristian “Kily” González, who took over September 16.

READ | Lionel Messi farewell: A look back at every goal he scored for Argentina

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

Messi scored his first in the 47th minute after Suárez 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.

Inter Miami vs DC United player ratings

Inter Miami: Dayne St. Clair (7.6/10), Gonzalo Lujan (7.4/10), Casemiro (7.4/10), Micael (6.8/10), Sergio Reguilon (7.0/10), Rodrigo De Paul (8.1/10), David Ayala (7.0/10), Matias Galarza (7.5/10), Lionel Messi (9.3/10), Luis Suarez (9.4/10), German Berterame (8.4/10)

Subs: Riquelme Fillipi (6.5/10), Maximiliano Falcon (6.4/10), Telasco Segovia (6.5/10), Ian Fray (6.7/10), Alexander Shaw (6.6/10)

DC United: Sean Johnson (6.7/10), Kimito Nono (5.7/10), Lucas Bartlett (6.0/10), Kye Rowles (5.7/10), Keisuke Kurokawa (5.8/10), Hosei Kijima (6.6/10), Nikola Markovic (5.9/10), Andre Dozzell (6.0/10), Peglow (6.4/10), Tai Baribo (6.0/10), Jackson Hopkins (6.2/10)

Subs: Matti Peltola (6.4/10), Nathan Ordaz (6.0/10), Silvan Hefti (6.2/10), Brandon Servania (6.0/10), Jared Stroud (5.9/10)