Messi marks Argentina farewell with two-goal return as Inter Miami rout D.C. United 4-0

Lionel Messi returned from international retirement in emphatic fashion on Saturday, scoring twice as Inter Miami beat D.C. United 4-0 at home to snap a five-match winless streak in MLS.

Just four days after playing his farewell match for Argentina — ending a 21-year international career — Messi completed the full 90 minutes and lifted his league-leading goal tally to 23 for the season. Luis Suárez also scored twice, with German Berterame providing two assists in a dominant display.

Suárez set the tone inside three minutes, converting Berterame’s header to beat goalkeeper Sean Johnson at the near post. He doubled the lead in the 39th minute after Johnson parried a Messi effort into the path of Berterame, who teed up Suárez for a simple tap-in.

Messi added his name to the scoresheet two minutes into the second half. Suárez played him in close to the six-yard box and the Argentine finished crisply inside the right post. He struck again in the 60th minute, collecting a pass from Rodrigo De Paul, dribbling past two United defenders and slotting home from 12 yards to complete the rout.

The result was Inter Miami’s first victory since a 7-1 win over CF Montreal on 29 August, and the first league win for new head coach Cristian ‘Kily’ González, who took charge on 16 September.

D.C. United, meanwhile, remain without a win in their last five matches, with Johnson unable to prevent a difficult evening despite a string of saves before the floodgates opened.

Inter Miami next host New York City FC on Wednesday, while D.C. United face the New York Red Bulls on the same night.