Messi scores twice as Inter Miami beats Atlanta 3-1

Lionel Messi scored two goals in four minutes to help Inter Miami win 3-1 against Atlanta United on Saturday. This win keeps Miami's MLS title defense strong as the playoffs are coming up.

The 39-year-old star leads the Major League Soccer scoring chart with 25 goals. He is six goals ahead of Petar Musa from FC Dallas and Milan Iloski from Philadelphia.

In the same Atlanta stadium where Messi helped Argentina beat England in the World Cup semi-finals in July, he scored two amazing goals. This match marked Miami's third straight victory.

German Berterame started off by scoring for Miami in the 45th minute. He then assisted Messi, who skillfully maneuvered through the Atlanta defense. Messi took a left-footed shot from the center of the box, making it 2-0 in the 56th minute.

Just four minutes later, Messi scored again. He received a pass from Luis Suarez and got past Junior Alonso to strike the ball past Atlanta's goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos.

Messi set up Miami’s first goal just before halftime. He headed the ball to Suarez, who shook off his defender and passed it to Berterame. Berterame then nodded the ball home for a 1-0 lead.

Messi earned an assist in this match, tying with LAFC’s Son Heung-min at the top of the assists table. Messi is also the first player in MLS history to have at least 15 assists in three straight seasons.

Since his emotional send-off with Argentina, Messi has now scored four goals in three matches. Miami secured a playoff spot on Wednesday and has won three games in a row under their new coach, Cristian “Kily” Gonzalez, who took over last month.

In the 89th minute, Fafa Picault scored a penalty for Atlanta, reducing the deficit to 3-1. But with Atlanta sitting second from bottom in the Eastern Conference, coach Gerardo Martino's team is running out of time to make a playoff push.