Lionel Messi scores twice, adds assist to propel Inter Miami to 3-1 victory over Atlanta United

ATLANTA (AP) — Lionel Messi scored two second-half goals 4 minutes apart after a first-half assist, and Inter Miami cruised to a 3-1 victory over Atlanta United on Saturday night.

Neither team scored until Germán Berterame used assists from Messi and Luis Suárez in the final minute of the first half to score his ninth goal in his first 26 MLS appearances.

Messi tied Los Angeles FC's Son Heung-min for the league lead with his 15th assist, becoming the first player in league history with at least 15 helpers in three consecutive seasons.

Messi added his league-leading 24th and 25th goals in the 56th and 60th minutes for a 3-0 advantage. Berterame assisted on both scores and Suárez snagged one on Messi' second goal.

Messi won the Golden Boot Award last season with 29 goals. He and Josef Martínez are the only players in league history to score at least 25 times in a regular season twice. Messi's 40 goal contributions are nine shy of Carlos Vela's record set in 2019 with Los Angeles FC, and the Miami legend has four matches remaining to break it.

Berterame has eight assists and Suárez notched his career-high 11th.

Dayne St. Clair had two saves and lost his bid for a clean sheet when Fafà Picault scored on a penalty kick in the 89th minute.

Lucas Hoyos saved two shots for Atlanta United, which played Inter Miami to a 2-2 draw on the road to start September.

Atlanta: Hosts Chicago Fire on Saturday.

Miami: At New York Red Bullls on Saturday.

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Atlanta United midfielder Alexey Miranchuk, left, and Inter Miami midfielder Matías Galarza, right, battle during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

Atlanta United defender Elías Báez, second from right, fouls Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, right, during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

Inter Miami forward Germán Berterame, center, scores against Atlanta United during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi reacts after a goal against Atlanta United during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A woman drove a truck through a soccer field during a youth game in Kansas on Saturday, killing two people and sending 11 other victims to the hospital, authorities said.

A 6-year-old boy and a 35-year-old man were killed, Wichita Police Capt. Aaron Moses said. The ages of the injured people ranged from 5 to 68.

Moses said the driver, a 34-year-old, was in custody. He did not say whether authorities believe it was intentional.

“We are still working to determine how this happened and why this happened,” he said.

Two children were also in the truck, Moses said.

Police Chief Joe Sullivan said that immediately after the incident, and before first responders arrived at the scene, people “sprang into action” to provide lifesaving assistance to the victims.

“It was truly amazing,” Sullivan said. “But I think it's indicative of the Wichita community.”

Authorities said there was no further public threat.

Mayor Lily Wu advised people to avoid the area during the investigation and said the news was heartbreaking.

“My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected, especially the children and families involved,” she said via Facebook.

This image provided by KAKE shows police on the scene where a person drove a vehicle through a soccer field during a game in Wichita, Kansas, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Wyatt Glosson/KAKE via AP)

This image provided by KAKE shows police on the scene where a person drove a vehicle through a soccer field during a game in Wichita, Kansas, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Wyatt Glosson/KAKE via AP)