Messi Channels Maradona! Two Stunning Goals Bring Him Closer to the Historic 1,000
936 goals and counting! Lionel Messi delivered another dazzling performance with two brilliant solo efforts reminiscent of Diego Maradona, continuing his remarkable journey toward one of football's most iconic milestones.
Lionel Messi produced another footballing masterclass at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, inspiring Inter Miami to a 3-1 victory over Atlanta United with a spectacular brace.
Both goals came from outstanding individual moves, featuring dazzling dribbles, sharp changes of direction and left-footed finishes that brought back memories of Diego Armando Maradona.
With those two strikes, Messi reached 936 career goals, leaving the Argentine superstar just 64 goals away from the historic 1,000-goal milestone.
The Inter Miami captain continues to add to his remarkable scoring record as the countdown to four figures gathers momentum.
Two Messi wondergoals bring back memories of Maradona
Inter Miami broke the deadlock through Germán Berterame, who headed home a cross from Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez just before halftime.
In the 51st minute, goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair produced a crucial save to deny Paraguayan international Miguel Almirón an equalizer.
Five minutes later, the Messi show began.
In the 56th minute, the Argentine picked up the ball near the halfway line, combined with Berterame and launched into a remarkable solo run, even having to weave past his own teammate before finishing with his left foot to make it 2-0.
Just four minutes later, in the 60th minute, Messi produced another moment of individual brilliance.
The Argentine danced through Atlanta United defenders inside the penalty area with a dazzling slaloming run, before beating the goalkeeper to complete his brace.
Both goals, combining exceptional close control, dribbling and finishing, evoked memories of Maradona's legendary individual efforts.
Former Inter Miami player Fafa Picault pulled one back for Atlanta United from the penalty spot in the 89th minute, setting the final score at 3-1.
How many goals does Messi need to reach 1,000?
With his brace against Atlanta United, Lionel Messi reached 936 career goals, moving within 64 goals of the historic 1,000-goal milestone.
The Argentine added two more strikes to his remarkable tally, taking his career total from 934 to 936 and keeping the countdown to four figures firmly in the spotlight.
The numbers tell the story:
- Current career goals: 936.
- Historic target: 1,000 goals.
- Goals remaining: 64.
Messi reaches 25 MLS goals as Inter Miami extend winning streak
Beyond his pursuit of 1,000 career goals, Lionel Messi took his MLS tally to 25 goals this season, strengthening his position as the league's leading scorer.
His performance helped Cristian González's Inter Miami secure a third consecutive victory, in a match that also featured an all-Argentine coaching matchup against Gerardo 'Tata' Martino.
The result left Inter Miami second in the Eastern Conference with 55 points, 11 behind leaders Nashville.
Messi returns to the scene of another memorable performance
Mercedes-Benz Stadium once again provided the setting for a standout performance from the Argentine captain.
Earlier in the summer, Messi had played a key role at the same venue during the North American World Cup semifinals, providing a crucial assist in Argentina's victory over England.
Back in Atlanta, Messi took center stage again, this time with two spectacular goals that helped Inter Miami claim three valuable MLS points.
Three key takeaways from Messi's Atlanta United masterclass
- A Maradona-like brace: Messi scored two stunning solo goals as Inter Miami defeated Atlanta United 3-1.
- Just 64 goals from 1,000: The Argentine superstar reached 936 career goals and moved another step closer to the historic milestone.
- MLS Golden Boot leader: Messi reached 25 league goals this season and helped Inter Miami secure their third consecutive victory.
