Messi scores twice in Inter Miami's win and reaches 936 career goals

In yet another brilliant performance, Lionel Messi scored two goals on Saturday in Inter Miami over Atlanta United on Saturday, bringing his total to 26 goals this MLS season, where he leads the league in scoring, and to 936 goals in his illustrious career.

Messi paved the way for "Las Garzas's" victory by setting up the team's first goal, scored by Mexican forward Germán Berterame in the first half, and scoring his two goals within a four-minute span in the second half of the match played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, in Atlanta.

"He never ceases to amaze the world," said his coach, Cristian González, at the postgame press conference. "What makes me happiest is that he's happy, and when he's happy, he gives his all."

Berterame opened the scoring in the 45th minute. Messi found Luis Suárez inside the box, and the Uruguayan played a lobbed pass to set up the Mexican, who beat goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos with a header. With this goal, Berterame scored his second consecutive goal and his ninth of the season.

Although Miami wasn't playing at its best, the team managed to maintain defensive discipline and kept Atlanta United's Swiss forward Breel Embolo and Paraguayan forward Miguel Almirón, the main offensive threats for the team coached by Gerardo Martino, former head coach of Inter Miami, in check.

Messi, 39, scored his first goal of the night in the 56th minute, when, after a give-and-go with Berterame, he finished with a shot across the goal. Four minutes later, "la pulga" won a one-on-one duel against Paraguayan Júnior Alonso and scored Inter Miami's third goal.

Closing in on 1,000 goals

With this, he has reached 936 career goals and continues to close in on the magical milestone of 1,000 goals.

"I'm confident and I know he's going to do it (reach 1,000 goals) because he loves a challenge; he's achieved everything, and this won't be any different," said an emotional González.

Atlanta United pulled one back in the 89th minute with a penalty kick scored by Fafa Picault.

With this victory, their third in a row, Inter Miami remain in second place in the Eastern Conference with 55 points, 11 points behind the leader, Nashville SC, who later visited the San Jose Earthquakes for the 30th matchday of the regular season.

"We've achieved our first goal; it's up to me to keep improving as a team, and today we showed some real character."

Atlanta United, for its part, has virtually no chance of advancing to the playoffs, sitting in second-to-last place in the East with 30 points, ahead of only the Montreal Impact, led by Chilean forward Alexis Sánchez, which has 24 points.