DC United 1-2 Inter Miami Player Ratings: De Paul 8.5/10 Inspires Miami as Messi's Magic Edges Him Closer to 900 Career Goals

A record crowd of over 60,000 packed into M&T Bank Stadium, buzzing with anticipation, and for good reason, watching Lionel Messi write the next chapter of the greatest story football has ever told. DC United started with intent and made things uncomfortable early on, but Inter Miami were simply too clinical, too composed, and far too good on the night.

Rodrigo De Paul set the tone in the 17th minute, curling a composed right-footed finish beyond Johnson after Berterame's pressing forced the turnover that started it all. Ten minutes later, Messi did what Messi does, latching onto Silvetti's perfectly threaded throughball and lifting a first-time finish over a helpless Johnston, who had rushed off his line and paid the price. It was goal number 899, and the whole stadium held its breath, wondering if 900 was coming.

DC United refused to lie down, and Baribo's tidy tap-in with 15 minutes remaining set up a nervy finale, but Inter Miami's quality ultimately told. A 2-1 victory moves the Herons to third in the MLS standings with six points, and all eyes remain firmly fixed on Messi's next outing. Here are Sportsdunia's DC United vs Inter Miami player ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Rodrigo De Paul was the orchestrator of everything good about Inter Miami, opening the scoring with a clinical, curled finish and completing 62 of 74 passes in a masterclass display of composure and vision that thoroughly deserved the Man of the Match accolade.
• Messi's 899th career goal was a moment to savour, a breathtaking first-time chip over a stranded Johnston that had the record crowd of 60,000 on their feet, with the footballing world now counting down to the historic 900th.
• DC United showed genuine fight and character, with Baribo's instinctive tap-in giving the home faithful genuine belief in the final quarter, but ultimately their inability to contain Miami's quality in the first half proved too costly.

DC United Player Ratings vs Inter Miami

Here are the DC United player ratings for the DC United vs Inter Miami MLS fixture.

Goalkeeper

Sean Johnson - 6.0: A challenging night for the keeper. He was left exposed for both first-half goals and couldn't have done much. Johnson did make three saves, including two from inside the box, to keep the scoreline respectable. His distribution was okay, but he looked a bit shaky at times. It was a tough situation for him.

Defenders

Lucas Bartlett - 5.0: A truly difficult evening for the captain. What stood out to us, unfortunately, was the glaring error that led to a goal. That one moment really put his team on the back foot. Beyond that mistake, he lost possession 16 times and looked uncomfortable throughout. He only won two of his four duels. It just wasn't his night, a performance he will want to forget quickly.

Silvan Hefti - 6.0: He was certainly busy, but not always effective. We noticed he was involved in 12 duels but only won five of them, showing the struggle he faced. He did make four interceptions and three clearances, showing a willingness to defend. However, losing possession 18 times is far too high for a defender. A mixed bag of a performance.

Keisuke Kurokawa - 6.5: One of the more solid performers in a shaky DC United backline. His pass accuracy of 88% was impressive, and he recovered the ball nine times. He even tried to get forward, putting in four crosses. From our perspective, he was one of the few who could hold his head high after this defeat.

Kye Rowles - 6.0: A quiet and largely ineffective game from the defender. While his 91% pass accuracy looks good on paper, he failed to impose himself on the match. He won only one of his three duels and seemed a step off the pace. We expected more from him in such a big game.

Midfielders

Matti Peltola - 7.0: One of the few bright sparks for the home side. He was constantly trying to make things happen, creating three chances for his teammates. Peltola was also strong defensively, winning three of his four tackles. He was a real presence in midfield before being subbed off late in the game. A very decent showing in a losing effort.

Peglow - 6.5: A combative display from the midfielder. He got stuck in, making six tackles and winning six duels, though he also picked up a yellow card for his troubles. The downside was his tendency to lose the ball, turning it over four times and losing possession 13 times. He showed fight but lacked composure.

Gabriel Pirani - 5.5: A very anonymous performance. He struggled to get into the game and was substituted after just 61 minutes. He lost 6 of his 17 duels and was dispossessed four times, which says it all. He simply couldn't make an impact and looked frustrated. A disappointing outing.

Brandon Servania - 5.5: Much like his midfield partner Pirani, Servania was a passenger for most of his time on the pitch. He was neat in possession but offered very little going forward or defensively. Substituted after an hour, it felt like the game had passed him by. He needed to be more involved.

Jackson Hopkins - 6.5: A frustrating player to watch. He provided the assist for his team's goal and created three chances in total, showing his creative potential. However, he lost possession a staggering 22 times and his pass completion was a lowly 62%. There's talent there, but his decision-making needs to improve drastically.

Forwards

Tai Baribo - 7.0: He got the goal that gave his team a lifeline. It was a well-taken finish and showed his predatory instincts in the box. He was largely starved of service for most of the match but took his one big chance when it came. He did his job, you can't ask for much more.

Substitutes

Louis Munteanu - N/A: Came on and had a couple of decent chances, but couldn't find the target.

Nikola Markovic - N/A: Replaced Servania and added a bit more presence in midfield.

Caden Clark - N/A: Had little time to make a significant impact on the game.

Jacob Murrell - N/A: A late substitute with not enough time to influence the outcome.

Manager

R. Weiler - 6.0: His team looked completely unprepared for Inter Miami's fast start. Being 2-0 down inside 30 minutes at home is unacceptable. To his credit, his team showed much more fight in the second half and the tactical tweaks helped. However, the initial plan was clearly wrong and it cost them the match.

Inter Miami Player Ratings vs DC United

Check out the Inter Miami player ratings vs DC United.

Goalkeeper

Dayne St. Clair - 7.0: A confident performance from the shot-stopper. He made two important saves and commanded his area well, claiming two high balls. His distribution was excellent with 91% accuracy. He did get a yellow card for time-wasting, but it showed smart game management to see out the win.

Defenders

Facundo Mura - 6.5: A solid if unspectacular performance from the right-back. He was tidy in possession and didn't make any notable errors. He kept things simple and did his defensive duties without any fuss. A professional display.

Micael - 8.0: A colossal performance at the heart of the defense. From our perspective, he was almost flawless. He completed an astounding 107 of 111 passes, showing incredible composure on the ball. He also made six clearances and won six of his nine duels. A truly commanding display.

Noah Allen - 7.0: A very strong showing from the young defender. He was excellent in the tackle, winning all three he attempted. He was also reliable in possession, with an 88% pass accuracy. He balanced his defensive duties with getting forward well. A mature performance beyond his years.

Maximiliano Falcón - 7.5: Another rock in the Inter Miami defense. His passing was almost perfect, completing 81 of 83 attempts. He was strong in the duel, winning seven of eleven, and made some crucial interceptions and blocks. He formed a formidable partnership with Micael that DC United couldn't break down.

Midfielders

Rodrigo De Paul - 8.5: What a phenomenal performance. He was the undisputed man of the match, our highest-rated player. He set the tone with a brilliant opening goal. He was the engine of the team, driving forward from midfield and creating chances. He took four shots and was a constant threat to the opposition defense. What stood out to us was his energy and desire throughout the 90 minutes.

Telasco Segovia - 7.0: Provided the assist for the opening goal with a clever pass. He was very tidy in possession, completing 86% of his passes. He worked hard for the team, recovering the ball seven times before being substituted. A very positive contribution to the team's victory.

Mateo Silvetti - 6.5: He popped up with the crucial assist for Messi's goal. He was a creative spark for the team, although he was a bit loose with the ball at times, losing possession 13 times. Still, his contribution to the winning goal was vital. A decent outing.

Yannick Bright - 8.0: The man was a machine in the middle of the park. We noticed his incredible defensive numbers: nine tackles and winning 12 out of 19 duels. He was simply everywhere, breaking up D.C. United's attacks before they could even start. His presence gave the backline so much security. A truly dominant display that won his team the game.

Forwards

Lionel Messi - 8.0: The legend does it again. He scored what proved to be the winning goal with a typically cool finish. Even when he wasn't scoring, his movement and passing caused chaos in the DC United defense. He completed 80% of his passes and was always looking to create. He is the difference-maker, plain and simple.

Germán Berterame - 7.0: A tireless performance from the striker. He worked hard, pressed the defense, and held the ball up well. He won five of his seven duels and had two shots on target. He didn't get on the scoresheet, but his selfless running created space for others. A solid team performance.

Substitutes

Tadeo Allende - N/A: Came on for the final 20 minutes to help see out the game.

Gonzalo Luján - N/A: A very late substitution to waste time and shore up the defense.

Manager

J. Mascherano - 7.5: His game plan worked to perfection. He sent his team out to attack from the first whistle, and they were rewarded with two early goals. He managed the second half professionally, making the right substitutions to withstand the home side's pressure. It was an expert away performance from the Argentine coach.

Man of the Match

Rodrigo De Paul was the man of the match.

Worst Performer

Lucas Bartlett was the worst performer.