Messi scores twice for Miami in 1st game since Argentina farewell

BREAKING: Lionel Messi scores twice in a 4-0 Inter Miami rout of DC United, his first game since bidding farewell to the Argentina national team.

Four days after saying goodbye to Argentina, Messi scored twice and looked like he might play forever.

Inter Miami beat DC United 4-0 at home, and the 39-year-old made it look routine, and there he is, pointing at the camera like a man who knows exactly what he's doing. Luis Suárez got two in the first half and then teed up Messi's first, a tap-in two minutes after the break. The second was pure vintage, quick feet, a cruel cut back, bottom corner.

That's 23 league goals now, four clear in the Golden Boot race, plus 13 assists, and a goal contribution in ten straight MLS games, which he's never done before. Miami climb to second in the East with the playoffs a month out.

He retired from international football on Tuesday. On Saturday he reminded everyone the club version isn't going anywhere.

This is Sara White, reporting for HIT.