Miami, March 7. Inter Miami defeated DC United 2-1 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore for the third matchday of the MLS, with goals from Rodrigo De Paul and Lionel Messi. The match was inevitably linked to the team's recent visit to the White House, where they were received by U.S. President Donald Trump to commemorate their MLS Cup 2025 victory. The team, led by Javier Mascherano, started strong: De Paul opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a spectacular goal, while Messi doubled the lead in the 27th with a high-quality finish following a pass from Mateo Silvetti. With this win, Inter Miami reached six points in three matches and secured a spot in the upper tier of the Eastern Conference. The pre-match ceremony had a global impact. During the event, the Argentine captain presented Trump with a pink ball, and the club also gifted him a jersey with the number 47, a reference to his status as the 47th U.S. president. At the ceremony, Trump particularly praised Messi for choosing to play in Miami and even joked with the squad, specifically highlighting De Paul. On Thursday, Messi and his teammates were honored in Washington for their 2025 MLS title win. DC United pulled one back in the second half through Tai Baribo, but it wasn't enough to avoid the defeat. The Argentine partnership once again made the difference: De Paul ignited the afternoon with his powerful strike, and Messi finished it off with another trademark goal, sealing a valuable victory in an atypical weekend where football, power, and global exposure were condensed into less than 72 hours. According to Reuters, the head of state highlighted the global reach of the Rosarino and used the ceremony to blend sports recognition with political comments on his government's international agenda. Back on the field, Inter Miami set aside the off-field noise and responded with authority.
