The Argentine forward’s two goals included the game-winning goal against the Colorado Rapids in front of more than 75,000 fans in Denver.
Published April 19, 2026
Lionel Messi scored twice and German Bertelame scored another with a header as Inter Miami beat the Colorado Rapids 3-2 in Major League Soccer (MLS) in Denver on Saturday.
Messi scored the winning goal in the 79th minute. He started his run just inside midfield and made his way into the box unopposed before firing a shot into the top left corner of the goal for a 3-2 lead.
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Rafael Navarro and Darren Yapi each scored for Colorado (4-4-0, 12 points) in front of a crowd of 75,824 at Empower Field, the second-largest crowd in MLS history.
Miami (4-1-3, 15 points) took a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute when Yannick Bright intercepted a pass from Colorado goaltender Zach Steffen. Josh Atencio put up a tough challenge but was shown a yellow card after a video review.
Messi kicked the resulting penalty and rolled the shot straight down the middle, giving Miami a 1-0 lead.
Colorado had its eyes firmly on the goal as midfielder Wayne Frederick attempted a one-touch lob. Miami goalkeeper Dane St. Clair was out of position after heading a loose ball and was well beyond the penalty arc, but Frederick’s shot went over the open net.
Five minutes into first-half stoppage time, Miami connected passes deep in the attacking third to extend their lead to 2-0. Messi started the play with a tight touch pass to Rodrigo De Paul.
De Paul ran Matteo Silvetti to the boundary line. His inward-spinning cross floated in front of goal, where Bartelame rose above the Colorado defenders and tucked his header under the bar.
Navarro’s goal cut Miami’s lead to 2-1. He started a run in midfield and used a step-over move to take an open shot a few steps inside the box, but in the 58th minute it was sucked past the diving St. Clair and inside the left post.
In the 62nd minute, second-half substitute Yapi took a direct pass from Lucas Herrington and fired a shot past St. Clair to tie the score.
Miami won in the 87th minute when Yannick Breit was sent off for a red card and went man-down.
