Lionel Messi made a commanding return to club football on October 10, 2026, scoring twice to lead Inter Miami to a 4-0 victory over DC United. The match came just four days after Messi concluded his 21-year career with the Argentine national team, a tenure that ended with a farewell appearance. Despite his recent international retirement, Messi played the full 90 minutes for the Florida-based club.
Inter Miami’s offensive dominance was bolstered by Luis Suárez, who also contributed two goals. The scoring began early, with Suárez finding the back of the net just three minutes into the game after receiving a header from Germán Berterame. Suárez doubled the lead in the 39th minute, tapping in a shot after a sequence involving Messi and Berterame. Messi then took center stage in the second half, scoring his first goal in the 47th minute from close range following an assist by Suárez. He added his second in the 60th minute, navigating past two defenders before beating DC United goalkeeper Sean Johnson from 12 yards out. These goals brought Messi’s league-leading tally to 23 for the season.
This result marked a significant turnaround for Inter Miami, which had been on a five-match winless streak consisting of four draws and one loss. The victory was the first league win for the team since their 7-1 defeat of CF Montreal on August 29. It also served as the debut league win for new coach Cristian “Kily” González, who had assumed the managerial role on September 16. In contrast, the match extended DC United’s difficult run, leaving them winless in their last five fixtures. The convincing win provides a much-needed boost for Inter Miami as they look to build momentum under their new leadership.
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