Leo, Leo, Leo: Messi Leads Inter Miami Past Atlanta United 3-1

At the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta United had its hands full with one of the biggest names in the sport. Under the Saturday night lights Lionel Messi made sure the spotlight stayed on him.

Inter Miami defeated Atlanta United 3-1, with Messi scoring twice in the second half after helping create the opening goal before the break. Atlanta battled throughout the night and created several chances, but Miami’s firepower proved too much.

The Five Stripes nearly struck first in the seventh minute when Breel Embolo found space inside the box, but his effort was blocked. A minute later, Embolo had another look from the left side, but his shot went wide.

Atlanta continued to push early. In the 23rd minute, Miguel Almirón had a left-footed attempt blocked inside the box, and Tristan Muyumba came close in the 27th minute with a shot from the center of the area that missed just wide.

For much of the first half, Atlanta stayed organized and kept Miami off the scoreboard. That changed in the 45th minute. Messi helped start the play before Luis Suárez delivered the final ball into Germán Berterame, who headed home from the center of the box to give Inter Miami a 1-0 lead just before halftime.

Atlanta came out of the break looking for a response. Almirón had back-to-back chances early in the second half, including a shot saved by Dayne St. Clair in the 52nd minute.

But then Messi took over.

In the 56th minute, Germán Berterame found Messi inside the box, and the Argentine superstar calmly finished with his left foot into the lower-left corner to make it 2-0.

Four minutes later, Messi struck again.

This time, Suárez helped create the opportunity before Messi finished from the center of the box, placing another left-footed shot into the bottom-right corner for his second goal of the night.

Just like that, Atlanta was staring at a 3-0 deficit. The Five Stripes kept pushing.

Mauricio Amaro, Paulo Díaz, Júnior Alonso and Alexey Miranchuk all had second-half attempts as Atlanta tried to find a way back into the match.

In the 86th minute, Matthew Edwards nearly pulled one back, but his shot from outside the box struck the right post. Atlanta finally got on the scoreboard in the 89th minute.

Fafà Picault, who entered the match in the 82nd minute, won a penalty after being fouled by Maximiliano Falcón inside the box. Picault stepped to the spot and buried the penalty into the bottom-right corner to cut the deficit to 3-1.

But there was not enough time left for Atlanta to mount a late comeback.

Miami walked away with all three points, while Messi once again delivered on the big stage.

For Atlanta, the night was another reminder of how quickly elite teams can punish missed opportunities.

The Five Stripes created chances, especially in the opening half and early moments of the second, but Miami was far more clinical when the opportunities came.

Messi finished with two goals and an assist, playing a direct role in all three Miami goals.

And in front of a crowd of 46,686, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner gave Atlanta fans another look at why he remains one of the most dangerous players in the world.

Atlanta did have a few positives.

Picault converted from the spot, Almirón remained active in the attack, and the Five Stripes continued to create opportunities even after falling behind. But against a Miami side loaded with experience and star power, those chances had to turn into goals.

Saturday night belonged to Messi.

Or maybe we should say it like the crowd has heard so many times before:

Leo. Leo. Leo.

NEXT UP: Atlanta looks to defend its home turf and return to winning ways in front of the Five Stripes faithful when the team host Chicago Fire FC on Saturday, October 24, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. ET, as