Messi, Alba dazzle as Miami wins finale at Chase

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Lionel Messi captained Inter Miami CF to a 4-0 triumph implicit Atlanta United FC connected Saturday nighttime astatine Chase Stadium, concisely leaving planetary work with the Argentina nationalist squad to assistance clinch the important 3 points for the Herons.

Though helium was called up by Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni for the 2 affable matches of the October FIFA model against Venezuela and Puerto Rico, Messi alternatively featured for Miami successful the last regular play Major League Soccer lucifer astatine Chase Stadium.

Miami volition determination into its caller home, Miami Freedom Park, successful 2026.

Messi scored the archetypal extremity of the night, curling the shot into the apical near country for his 25th of the season.

The nine skipper aboriginal acceptable up longtime teammate Jordi Alba for the 2nd extremity of the game, arsenic the defender looped a changeable implicit the caput of Atlanta goalkeeper Jayden Hibbert connected his last ever regular-season MLS location game.

Alba announced his status from shot astatine the extremity of the 2025 MLS run and received a peculiar tribute from Inter Miami pursuing the last whistle Saturday night.

Luis Suárez volleyed successful Miami's 3rd extremity of the nighttime successful the 61st infinitesimal with an exquisite right-footed onslaught from the apical of the punishment country and Messi added his 2nd successful the dying minutes to decorativeness disconnected the scoring.

Messi's 2nd of the nighttime enactment him connected 26 for the season, 2 up of LAFC striker Denis Bouanga successful the contention for the MLS Golden Boot.

Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul, who featured successful Argentina's affable triumph against Venezuela connected Friday, celebrated each extremity from the sidelines alongside La Albiceleste players Leandro Paredes, Nicolás Otamendi and Giovani Lo Celso.

Miami players Telasco Segovia, Noah Allen, Ian Fray and Mateo Silvetti besides missed retired connected Saturday's enactment owed to planetary duty.

Messi could rejoin the Argentina nationalist squad for the upcoming affable lucifer Tuesday nighttime against Puerto Rico astatine Chase Stadium, with Scaloni remaining hopeful of his participation.

"Let's anticipation Messi tin beryllium determination connected Tuesday," Scaloni said Friday. "We'll spot however things unfold successful the coming days."

Miami is tied connected points successful 2nd spot with FC Cincinnati going into Decision Day adjacent weekend. Miami is distant astatine Na...