It required a rare confluence of events. Yet in the end, it just felt right that Leo Messi was at Jordi Alba ’s side in an Inter Miami kit on Saturday night.

Four days after Alba surprised the world with his announcement this season would be the last of his glittering 16-year career, the iconic Spanish left back was honored by IMCF following their rescheduled match vs. Atlanta United at Chase Stadium.

And he made sure it was a suitably celebratory occasion by scoring the second goal in a 4-0 rout that assures the Herons of at least a third-place finish in the ferocious MLS Eastern Conference, while taking a small bit of revenge on the side that upset them in last year’s postseason.

Iconic duo

Fittingly, it was Messi, the beneficiary of so many incisive assists from Alba acr

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