![\"Inter](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/MIA_4_Inter_Miami_vs_Atlanta_United_MJO.JPG\" "\\"Inter")
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Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) and Maxi Falcon warm up before their MLS match against Atlanta United at Nu Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Miami, Fla.<\/p>\n
Photo by Matias J. Ocner<\/p>\n
mocner@miamiherald.com<\/p>\n
Thunderstorms delayed the start of Inter Miami\u2019s home game against Atlanta United on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
The game, which marked the return of Atlanta coach Tata Martino to face his former team, was scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. but lightning in the area pushed back the start to 9:05 p.m.<\/p>\n
Inter Miami was coming off a 7-1 rout of CF Montreal in which Lionel Messi had a historic four-goal performance.<\/p>\n
Martino was asked by Apple TV before the game how it felt to be back in Miami facing his former team. He said: \u201cIt\u2019s nice to come back to this city, and to see this beautiful stadium that I had never seen. Obviously, the memories we had with Inter Miami were very nice for all of us. I am happy to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Martino added that he wanted to give \u201ceternal thanks\u201d to Messi for all he did for Argentina before he retired from the national team last week. \u201cNow it\u2019s time to stop demanding of him, to leave him alone and let him enjoy his life, however he wants, continuing here in Miami, with his family and especially that God give him and his loved ones much happiness.\u201d<\/p>\n
Martino and Messi shared a warm embrace during warmups before the match.<\/p>\n
![\"Fans](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/MIA_3_Inter_Miami_vs_Atlanta_United_MJO.JPG\" "\\"MIA_3_Inter_Miami_vs_Atlanta_United_MJO.JPG\\"")
Fans hold signs in support of Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) before the start of his MLS match against Atlanta United at Nu Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com <\/p>\n
Atlanta had won three games in a row in August, but lost 2-0 to Charlotte last weekend and slipped to 13th place in the East.<\/p>\n
Inter Miami, which snapped a five-game winless streak last weekend, leads the league with 56 goals over 22 games (2.5 goals per game) and Messi leads the Golden Boot race with 18 goals.<\/p>\n
The team is in second place in the Eastern Conference, 11 points behind leader Nashville SC and five points ahead of third-place Chicago with 12 games remaining in the regular season. Miami plays on the road at Chicago on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Miami\u2019s starting lineup on Saturday had just one change from the Montreal match.<\/p>\n
Fricio Caicedo, the 18-year-old Ecuadorean, started at left back for the first time, replacing Sergio Reguilon, who was out with a hamstring injury, and Noah Allen, who left Inter Miami this week on loan to the Chicago Fire with a permanent $3 million move to come in January 2027.<\/p>\n
The rest of Miami\u2019s starters were goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair, right back Ian Fray, Casemiro at center back, Maxi Falcon at center back, midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, midfielder Yannick Bright, midfielder Telasco Segovia, left wing Luis Suarez, right wing Messi and center forward German Berterame.<\/p>\n
Atlanta\u2019s Starting XI included the club\u2019s new $17 million center forward Breel Embolo, the Swiss World Cup star making his MLS debut after signing with Atlanta on August 23.<\/p>\n
Asked on Apple TV before the game whether he had revenge on his mind after Switzerland\u2019s extra time loss to Argentina in the World Cup quarterfinals, Embolo smiled and said: \u201cNo, no revenge. It\u2019s always a pleasure to play against the greatest. It\u2019s two different games. I\u2019m excited to play against him. We will do everything we can, we want to be the winner because we need three points.\u201d<\/p>\n
Atlanta\u2019s other starters were goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos, left back Elias Baez, center back Junior Alonso, center back Paulo Diaz, right back Tomas Jacob, midfielder Tristan Muyumba, midfielder Will Reilly, midfielder Cooper Sanchez, captain and left winger Miguel Almiron, and right wing Alexei Miranchuk.<\/p>\n
Former Inter Miami striker Fafa Picault, who grew up in South Florida, was on the bench for Atlanta.<\/p>\n
Martino, an Argentine from Messi\u2019s hometown of Rosario, became Miami\u2019s coach after Messi\u2019s arrival in the summer of 2023 and led the team to the 2024 Supporters\u2019 Shield with the best regular season record in MLS history.<\/p>\n
He resigned unexpectedly on November 2024, citing \u201cpersonal reasons\u201d and was hired a year later by Atlanta, the club with whom he had won the MLS Cup in 2018.<\/p>\n
Asked on Friday how his team planned to contain Messi, Martino chuckled and replied: \u201cWe just saw what he did at the World Cup at the age of 39. Everything that happened in a match went through him. There\u2019s no team capable of neutralizing him for the entire 92 or 93 or 95 minutes of the match.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is always a decisive moment. Sometimes there are many moments in a match, at other times, like in the game against England, it comes down to a single moment, and then it\u2019s over. There is no turning back. I told the players, `Even if we control the match for 89 minutes, we can still lose.\u201d<\/p>\n
This story was originally published September 5, 2026 at 8:24 PM.<\/p>\n
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