March 7, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) blocks a pass from DC United midfielder Brandon Serbania (23) in the first half at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Image Lionel Messi scored as Inter Miami beat D.C. United 2-1 on Saturday before a crowd of more than 70,000 at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
Rodrigo de Paul also settled for Miami (2-1-0, 6 points), taking a 2-0 lead in the early part and holding on until the second half.
Ty Baribeau scored his second goal of the season in the 75th minute for DC United (1-2-0, 3 points), which has lost its second straight game in its last six games against the Herons (0-4-2).
It was a successful trip north for the defending MLS Cup champions, who visited the White House last Thursday and presented President Donald Trump with an Inter Miami jersey emblazoned with his name and number 47.
This is the first time Messi has faced DC United in a road match. The Argentine legend signed with Miami for 2023, a week after the Herons played in Washington. For the past two years, Messi has been sidelined through injury when Miami visits DC.
Messi received Matteo Silvetti’s converted ball in the 27th minute of the first half to give Inter Miami a 2-0 lead. Messi beat charging DC goalkeeper Sean Johnson (3 saves) with a delicate left-footed chip from the left side of the box.
It was his 899th goal in his career after playing for the Argentina national team, Barcelona, and Paris Saint-Germain. His first goal came for Barcelona in 2005 at the age of 17.
Miami’s first goal was scored by German Verterame in the 17th minute of the first half, taking advantage of DC defender Lucas Bartlett’s careless play of the ball near the end line in the left corner of the penalty box.
Verterame picked up the ball and passed to Telasco Segovia in the top left corner of the box. Segovia fed across the box to an open De Paul, who fired a curling right-footed shot into the top left corner for his first regular season goal in two years with the Herons.
In the first half, Gabriel Pirani had his best attempt against DC after receiving a pass from Barivo, but his left-footed shot went just wide of the right post. In the second half, Luis Munteanu’s overhead kick from the right side missed wide to the left.
Barivo’s goal went into an open goal when Herons’ goalkeeper Dane St. Clair (2 saves) cleared the ball after making a wrong stop on Jackson Hopkins’ right-footed attempt, but St. Clair was unable to recover as Barivo grabbed the rebound.
Miami had possession for 59.5% of the game. DC United gave the Herons eight corners to go one-on-one, but gave the hosts few quality chances.
–Field level media
