At 39 years old, Lionel Messi continues to perform at a level that few players in Major League Soccer history have ever reached. On Saturday night, the Argentine superstar delivered another outstanding performance, scoring twice and contributing an assist as Inter Miami defeated Atlanta United 3-1 on the road to secure its third consecutive victory.
The win improved Inter Miami's record to 15-5-10 (55 points), with Messi once again at the center of everything the Herons accomplished offensively. Germán Berterame opened the scoring just before halftime, while Messi took control of the match in the second half with two goals in a four-minute span that effectively put the contest out of reach.
Beyond the victory, the evening was another historic chapter in Messi's remarkable career. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner reached 25 MLS goals and 15 assists this season, becoming the first player in league history to record at least 15 assists in three consecutive seasons.
And with four regular-season matches remaining, Messi is now within striking distance of another MLS record.
Inter Miami Takes Control Against Atlanta
The opening stages were relatively balanced, with Atlanta United holding its own against an Inter Miami side that has increasingly found its rhythm offensively. Messi nearly broke the deadlock in the 41st minute with a well-placed free kick toward the upper-right corner, but Atlanta goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos produced the save.
Four minutes later, Miami finally broke through.
The move began with Messi helping initiate the attack before Luis Suárez delivered a perfectly placed cross from the right side of the penalty area. Berterame timed his run and connected with a header to give Miami a 1-0 advantage heading into halftime.
It was Berterame's ninth league goal of the season, but the play also carried historical significance for Messi. His involvement earned him his 15th assist of the campaign, making him the first player in MLS history to reach that mark in three consecutive seasons.
Miami wasted little time extending its advantage after the break.
In the 56th minute, Messi collected possession on the right side, drifted toward the center and combined with Berterame on a quick give-and-go that opened space inside the penalty area. Messi finished the move with a precise left-footed strike along the ground to double Miami's lead.
Four minutes later, Messi produced another moment of brilliance.
Suárez delivered a beautiful outside-of-the-foot pass into space, allowing Messi to accelerate behind Atlanta's defense. The Argentine calmly maneuvered past a defender before placing his shot into the bottom-right corner for his second goal of the evening.
In the space of four minutes, Messi had turned a competitive match into a comfortable 3-0 advantage.
Atlanta eventually pulled one back in the 89th minute when Fafà Picault converted a penalty, denying Dayne St. Clair a clean sheet. However, the result was never seriously threatened, and Miami walked away with another important three points.
Messi Is Putting Together Another Historic MLS Season
What Messi is accomplishing at 39 years old is becoming increasingly difficult to comprehend.
After winning the MLS Golden Boot last season with 29 goals, Messi is once again leading the league in scoring with 25 goals while also ranking among its most productive playmakers with 15 assists.
His performance against Atlanta made him just the second player in MLS history, alongside Josef Martínez, to score at least 25 goals in two different regular seasons.
But perhaps the most impressive statistic is his overall offensive production.
Messi now has 40 goal contributions this season, putting him just nine away from matching Carlos Vela's MLS single-seasonrecord of 49, established with Los Angeles FC in 2019.
With four matches remaining, Messi would need 10 additional goal contributions to break that record. It is an ambitious target, but considering the level at which he has been performing, it would be foolish to completely rule it out.
What makes Messi's season even more remarkable is that he continues to dominate games in multiple ways. He is not simply finishing opportunities created by his teammates. He is orchestrating attacks, creating chances, manipulating defensive structures and controlling the tempo of matches.
Few players in MLS history have combined elite goalscoring and playmaking at this level, and Messi is doing it at an age when most footballers have already retired or experienced a significant decline.
Messi Is Closing In on 1,000 Career Goals
Messi's brace against Atlanta also moved him another step closer to one of football's most extraordinary individual milestones.
With 936 career goals, Messi is now just 64 away from reaching 1,000 official career goals.
It is another remarkable achievement for a player who has spent nearly two decades redefining what is possible on a football pitch.
And while reaching 1,000 goals will require Messi to maintain his production beyond this season, his current form suggests that his goalscoring ability remains one of the most dangerous in world football.
Even at 39, Messi continues to combine exceptional technical ability with the intelligence, movement and finishing that have defined his legendary career.
Kily González: "Leo Never Stops Amazing the World"
Inter Miami coach Kily González could hardly contain his admiration for Messi following another match-winning performance.
"Leo never stops amazing the world, I can't believe what he's doing at 39! He's happy, and he's forcing himself to deliver the best every time."
The comments reflect what has become increasingly obvious throughout the season. Messi is not simply extending his career in Miami. He continues to play with the competitiveness and determination that made him one of the greatest footballers in history.
His influence also extends beyond his individual numbers. His chemistry with Suárez remains exceptional, while Berterame has developed into another valuable attacking partner capable of benefiting from Messi's creativity.
Against Atlanta, all three players contributed directly to Miami's goals, illustrating just how dangerous this attack can become when its key pieces are operating together.
Inter Miami Is Finding Its Form at the Right Time
While Messi will understandably dominate the headlines, Miami's third consecutive victory is another encouraging development for a team looking to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
Berterame continues to provide another reliable scoring option, while Suárez remains an important creative presence despite being in the latter stages of his career. His outside-of-the-foot assist for Messi's second goal was a reminder of the technical quality and understanding that made their partnership so successful at Barcelona.
Defensively, Miami also delivered a relatively composed performance, limiting Atlanta to few meaningful opportunities before the late penalty.
The challenge now is to maintain that consistency as the postseason approaches. Miami possesses enough attacking talent to threaten any opponent in MLS, but its championship ambitions will ultimately depend on whether the team can combine that offensive firepower with disciplined defending.
The good news for Miami is that its most important player is performing at an extraordinary level.
With Messi leading the MLS Golden Boot race, chasing the single-season goal-contribution record and continuing his pursuit of 1,000 career goals, every remaining match carries additional significance.
Inter Miami will return to action Saturday, October 24, when it visits Red Bull New York at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET.
For now, the story remains the same: at 39 years old, Lionel Messi continues to defy expectations, rewrite the MLS record books and remind the football world why he is widely regarded as the greatest player of all time.
