Messi unleashes a left‑footed strike from outside the box that is heading for the top left corner, but Brad Guzan makes the save. Jordi Alba had set him up with a pass from the left.

From a corner routine, Messi works the ball to Jordi Alba, whose left‑footed shot from outside the box flies over the bar. Messi’s involvement helps create an early chance.

After Messi swings in a corner, David Martínez climbs to meet it with a header from the right side of the six‑yard box, but the effort glances wide of the left post.

Messi lets fly with a left‑footed shot from outside the box toward the top centre, but Guzan is well‑placed to make the save after a setup from Yannick Bright.

Combining again with Jordi Alba, Messi darts into the right side of the box and fires left‑footed, but his shot is blocked by the Atlanta defense.

Suárez feeds Messi in the centre of the box, where Messi lashes a left‑footed shot toward the top right corner, only for Guzan to produce another strong save.

Messi carries the ball forward in the attacking half and is fouled as he drives at the Atlanta back line, winning a dangerous free kick for Inter Miami.

From the resulting direct free kick, Messi curls a left‑footed shot from outside the box that bends just wide of the right post, narrowly missing the target.

Following a corner, Messi recycles the ball and sets up Jordi Alba, who strikes a left‑footed shot from outside the box into the bottom right corner to put Inter Miami 2–1 ahead.

Suárez links with Messi in the centre of the box, but Messi’s left‑footed attempt is smothered by a block from the Atlanta defense before it can trouble Guzan.

Diego Gómez picks out Messi in the centre of the box, where Messi’s left‑footed shot toward the bottom left corner is saved by Guzan at full stretch.

Messi threads a precise through ball into the left channel for Jordi Alba, whose left‑footed shot from a tight angle is blocked by the recovering Atlanta defenders.