Lionel Messi delivered another performance for the ages at Chase Stadium, powering Inter Miami to a dramatic 3-2 victory over D.C. United and underscoring a truth that no one in MLS can ignore: this team’s title ambitions live and die by the Argentine’s brilliance.

Inter Miami drew first blood in the 35th minute through Tadeo Allende, but their lead evaporated just after halftime when Christian Benteke nodded home a superb header to level for D.C. United. The visitors seized momentum, dictating play and pushing Miami onto the back foot, their aggression rewarded by a sustained spell of pressure.

But then, as he has so often done, Messi bent the match to his will. His equalizer in the 66th minute was a clinic in movement—drifting into space, receiving a pinpoint Jordi Alba pass, and executing a finish that left defenders and goalkeeper flat-footed. The chemistry between Alba and Messi, honed over years at Barcelona, was on full display, their interplay slicing open United’s back line.

If his first was sublime, Messi’s second was pure sorcery. With Miami pressing for the winner and the match teetering, Messi sized up his defender, shifted onto his left foot, and curled a shot past the keeper in the 85th minute—his 12th of the season, and surely one of his finest in pink. The stadium erupted, and for a moment, it seemed Miami’s grip on all three points was secure.

Yet, D.C. United refused to fold. Deep into stoppage time, Jacob Murrell found the net, setting up a fraught finish that saw Miami’s defense stretched and scrambling. Ultimately, Messi’s heroics were enough, but only just.

Key Moments

• Messi’s brace and assist, including two jaw-dropping nutmegs and a “crazy” assist, were the difference.
• Jordi Alba’s vision and timing set the stage for Miami’s best attacking sequences.
• Benteke’s equalizer and Murrell’s late strike exposed Miami’s defensive frailties.

Player of the Match: Messi, unequivocally, whose “GOAT magic” rescued Miami from another night of disappointment.

Broader Implications: As dazzling as Messi was, Miami’s reliance on their captain is becoming untenable. Defensive lapses and a lack of secondary scoring threaten to derail a promising campaign. If the supporting cast cannot raise their level, Messi may be forced to conjure miracles week after week—a gamble that no contender can afford.

The message from Saturday’s thriller is clear: Inter Miami’s ceiling is as high as Messi can lift it. For now, that remains sky-high—but every match is a reminder of how precarious their ascent truly is.