(Photo credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images)

Lionel Messi scored a goal as Inter Miami topped D.C. United 2-1 Saturday before a near-capacity crowd of more than 70,000 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.

Rodrigo De Paul also tallied for Miami (2-1-0, 6 points), which took an early 2-0 lead and then held on in the second half.

Tai Baribo scored his second goal of the season in the 75th minute for D.C. United (1-2-0, 3 points), who lost their second straight and remained winless in their last six matches against the Herons (0-4-2).

It was a successful trip north for the defending MLS Cup champions, who visited the White House on Thursday and presented President Donald Trump with an Inter Miami jersey emblazoned with his name and No. 47.

It was the first time Messi faced D.C. United in a road match. The Argentine legend signed with Miami in 2023 one week after the Herons played in Washington. In the last two years, Messi was sidelined by injuries when Miami visited D.C.

Messi's goal came on a transition feed from Mateo Silvetti in the 27th minute and gave Inter Miami a 2-0 lead. Messi did it with a delicate, left-footed chip from the left side of the box over onrushing D.C. keeper Sean Johnson (three saves).

It was the 899th goal of his career, which includes stints with the Argentina national team, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. His first goal came in 2005 with Barcelona as a 17-year-old.

Miami's first goal came in the 17th minute when German Berterame took advantage of a careless play with the ball by D.C. defender Lucas Bartlett near the endline at the left corner of the penalty box.

Berterame seized on the ball, passing to Telasco Segovia at the top left of the penalty box. Segovia sent a feed across the box to an open De Paul, who fired a curling right-footed shot into the upper left corner for his first regular-season goal in two years with the Herons.

Gabriel Pirani had the best attempt for D.C. in the first half after a feed from Baribo, but his left-footed shot was just wide of the right post. In the second half, Louis Munteanu's overhead kick from the right side was wide left.

Baribo's goal came when he walked the ball into an open goal after Herons keeper Dayne St. Clair (two saves) made a sprawling stop on a right-footed attempt by Jackson Hopkins, but St. Clair couldn't recover as Baribo seized the rebound.

Miami had possession for 59.5% of the match. D.C. United had eight corners to one for the Herons, but they provided few quality opportunities for the host side.

--Field Level Media