Lionel Messi is back scoring goals for Inter Miami just days after netting in his retirement match for Argentina. On Saturday, Messi scored an impressive brace to help Miami rout DC United 4-0. Four nights after scoring his last goal in the national jersey against Benin, Messi struck in the second half (47th and 60th minutes) on his return to the MLS as the defending champions won for only the second time in their past 11 league matches.&nbsp;The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner aims to lead Miami to back-to-back MLS titles, becoming the first team to do so since the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2011-12. Messi is also the top scorer this season, with 23 goals and 13 assists, as he seeks a third consecutive MLS Most Valuable Player award.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/portugal-federation-confirms-cristiano-ronaldo-s-return-to-national-team-despite-suspension-1791652241880">Portugal Federation confirms Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to national team despite suspension</a>&nbsp;Messi’s former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez headlined the first half with a brace to his name, improving Miami’s standing from third to second in the Eastern Conference. Uruguayan striker Suarez scored in the third minute to give Miami the lead, blasting a left-footed shot from the heart of the box into the top left corner. Suarez struck again in the 39th minute for his 16th goal of the campaign.&nbsp;Come the second half, Messi smashed home a left-footed shot off an assist from Suarez to give Miami a 3-0 lead. The footballing genius broke through three defenders 13 minutes later to add another goal to his tally and cap off the 4–0 rout.<h2>Messi’s ex-club Barcelona extend La Liga lead</h2>Elsewhere, Messi’s former club, FC Barcelona, extended its lead in the La Liga standings with a convincing 3-0 win over Getafe. English forward Anthony Gordon scored his first goal for Barcelona as the defending league champions maintain an unbeaten streak this season.&nbsp;Former Arsenal and Brazil forward Gabriel Jesus and French fullback Jules Kounde were the remaining two contributors to Barcelona’s success at Camp Nou.&nbsp;Barcelona move five points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid, who won 2-1 at Alaves earlier.

Lionel Messi scored twice on his Inter Miami return following his Argentina farewell, leading a 4-0 rout of DC United alongside Luis Suarez. Plus, Barcelona win 3-0.

Lionel Messi is back scoring goals for Inter Miami just days after netting in his retirement match for Argentina. On Saturday, Messi scored an impressive brace to help Miami rout DC United 4-0. Four nights after scoring his last goal in the national jersey against Benin, Messi struck in the second half (47th and 60th minutes) on his return to the MLS as the defending champions won for only the second time in their past 11 league matches. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner aims to lead Miami to back-to-back MLS titles, becoming the first team to do so since the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2011-12. Messi is also the top scorer this season, with 23 goals and 13 assists, as he seeks a third consecutive MLS Most Valuable Player award. Also read| Portugal Federation confirms Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to national team despite suspension Messi’s former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez headlined the first half with a brace to his name, improving Miami’s standing from third to second in the Eastern Conference. Uruguayan striker Suarez scored in the third minute to give Miami the lead, blasting a left-footed shot from the heart of the box into the top left corner. Suarez struck again in the 39th minute for his 16th goal of the campaign. Come the second half, Messi smashed home a left-footed shot off an assist from Suarez to give Miami a 3-0 lead. The footballing genius broke through three defenders 13 minutes later to add another goal to his tally and cap off the 4–0 rout. Messi’s ex-club Barcelona extend La Liga lead Elsewhere, Messi’s former club, FC Barcelona, extended its lead in the La Liga standings with a convincing 3-0 win over Getafe. English forward Anthony Gordon scored his first goal for Barcelona as the defending league champions maintain an unbeaten streak this season. Former Arsenal and Brazil forward Gabriel Jesus and French fullback Jules Kounde were the remaining two contributors to Barcelona’s success at Camp Nou. Barcelona move five points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid, who won 2-1 at Alaves earlier.

Lionel Messi scored twice on his Inter Miami return following his Argentina farewell, leading a 4-0 rout of DC United alongside Luis Suarez. Plus, Barcelona win 3-0.

Messi scores twice in Inter Miami return following final match for Argentina

Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammate defender Ian Fray were slapped with undisclosed fines by the Major League Soccer (MLS) Disciplinary Committee for violating the league’s policy on hands-to-face, head or neck of an opponent, the league announced on Friday (Aug 21). Following the stoppage-time incident in the 101st minute of Miami’s 2-2 draw with host Philadelphia Union on Wednesday, the two players received punishments for striking an opponent. &nbsp;Also during the fixture, tempers flared up in the second-half stoppage time as Miami's Yannick Bright and Philadelphia's Cavan ​Sullivan were shown red cards.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/paredes-handed-10-game-ban-as-fifa-suspends-three-argentina-players-over-world-cup-final-chaos-1787329246159">Paredes handed 10-game ban as FIFA suspends three Argentina players over World Cup final chaos</a> &nbsp;Cavan, however, was relieved of his punishment when his one-game suspension and accompanying fine for the red card were rescinded. The Independent Review Panel, consisting of one representative from U.S. Soccer, one representative from ​Canada Soccer and one independent representative nominated by the Professional ​Referee Organisation, unanimously voted in his favour for the incident that occurred in the 102nd minute. &nbsp;Meanwhile, it was late in stoppage time when Miami star Messi approached the centre circle to confront Quinn Sullivan while the ball was in play at the other side of the pitch. Following a brief exchange, Messi struck Quinn on the back of his neck, who then squared up to the footballing great in a fight-style stare-down.&nbsp;WATCH VIDEO -

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Lionel Messi slapping 22-year-old USMNT and Philadelphia Union forward Quinn Sullivan in the back of the head 😮 <a href="https://t.co/E87sMnhvng">pic.twitter.com/E87sMnhvng</a>&mdash; USMNT Only (@usmntonly) <a href="https://x.com/usmntonly/status/2090461793214927330?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Referee Filip Dujic, who had his back turned during the incident, arrived to separate the players but did not show either of them a card. Dujic later did send off Cavan Sullivan, younger brother and teammate of Quinn, and Miami's Italian midfielder Yannick Bright after their stoppage-time scuffle in Miami's penalty area. &nbsp;Messi, on the other hand, received a penalty for breaching the league’s policy.

MLS has fined Lionel Messi and Inter Miami defender Ian Fray over a stoppage-time hands-to-face incident against the Philadelphia Union. Read the full disciplinary details and match updates.

Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammate defender Ian Fray were slapped with undisclosed fines by the Major League Soccer (MLS) Disciplinary Committee for violating the league’s policy on hands-to-face, head or neck of an opponent, the league announced on Friday (Aug 21). Following the stoppage-time incident in the 101st minute of Miami’s 2-2 draw with host Philadelphia Union on Wednesday, the two players received punishments for striking an opponent. Also during the fixture, tempers flared up in the second-half stoppage time as Miami's Yannick Bright and Philadelphia's Cavan Sullivan were shown red cards. Also read| Paredes handed 10-game ban as FIFA suspends three Argentina players over World Cup final chaos Cavan, however, was relieved of his punishment when his one-game suspension and accompanying fine for the red card were rescinded. The Independent Review Panel, consisting of one representative from U.S. Soccer, one representative from Canada Soccer and one independent representative nominated by the Professional Referee Organisation, unanimously voted in his favour for the incident that occurred in the 102nd minute. Meanwhile, it was late in stoppage time when Miami star Messi approached the centre circle to confront Quinn Sullivan while the ball was in play at the other side of the pitch. Following a brief exchange, Messi struck Quinn on the back of his neck, who then squared up to the footballing great in a fight-style stare-down. WATCH VIDEO -

MLS has fined Lionel Messi and Inter Miami defender Ian Fray over a stoppage-time hands-to-face incident against the Philadelphia Union. Read the full disciplinary details and match updates.

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami teammate fined by MLS for stoppage-time slap incident

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Messi scores twice in Inter Miami return following final match for Argentina

Lionel Messi and Miami teammate fined by MLS for stoppage-time slap incident