Messi Leads 'Inter' to Victory

Miami – AFP – Argentine star Lionel Messi led his team, Inter Miami, to a crushing 4-0 victory over D.C. United in Major League Soccer, scoring two goals in his first win since playing in an international farewell match for his national team.

Just four days after scoring in his last appearance wearing the Albiceleste jersey in a 3-0 win over Benin, Messi struck in the 47th and 60th minutes, guiding defending champions Inter Miami to only their second victory in their last 11 league matches.

Uruguayan Luis Suarez had given Inter the lead by scoring two goals in the first half, lifting the team’s tally to 49 points and moving them from third to second place in the Eastern Conference.

Messi hopes Inter Miami will become the first team to win back-to-back MLS titles since the Los Angeles Galaxy in the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

“The Flea” tops the league’s scoring charts with 23 goals and 13 assists, and is aiming to win the MLS Most Valuable Player award for the third consecutive season.