Haitian star Fafà Picault wins Man of the Match for Inter Miami’s game-winner against Atlanta United

ATLANTA— Haitian men’s national team forward Fabrice Jean-Lan “Fafà” Picault scored the game-winning goal in the 89th minute to secure a dramatic 2-1 victory for Inter Miami CF against Atlanta United FC at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Sunday, March 16. The Haitian star-winger’s clutch performance earned him Man of the Match honors and helped Miami secure its third win in the first four matches of the 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) season.

Picault, who came off the bench in the 83rd minute after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained during his first home game for Miami on Feb. 22, connected with a precise cross from left-back Jordi Alba to give Miami the lead in the match’s closing moments. 

To score this match-winning goal, former Spain international Alba got the ball out wide from a late short corner kick and sent an out-swinging ball to the back post. Picault outmuscled Ajani Fortune and sent a header bouncing back across the goal, somehow wrong-footing Atlanta United’s goalkeeper Brad Guzan and nestling inside the far left post.

Post-game reactions

“That [goal] means a lot to me,” Picault said post-match. “To start the season injured was very tough for me—mentally more than physically. However, with great support from my family, friends, the team overall, and the medical staff, everyone made it easier for me to come back.”

Picault explained how he managed to score the difficult header despite his height while a taller player marked him, stunning nearly 43,000 Atlanta United fans in the stadium. 

“I grew up playing basketball. So ducking, even though I’m short, is not a problem for me,” he said.

It was Fafà’s first goal for his sixth MLS club and his 58th league career goal, having moved to Miami from Vancouver this offseason. Before joining Inter Miami CF  in December, Picault dominated the MLS, racking up an impressive 57 goals and 30 assists over eight seasons. He plied his trade first with the Philadelphia Union (2017-2019). He played for FC Dallas (2020), Houston Dynamo FC (2021-2022), Nashville SC (2023) and Vancouver Whitecaps (2024). 

The 33-year-old Haitian sensation came off a stellar 2024 season with the Whitecaps, contributing 10 goals and eight assists across all competitions.

Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano has been happy with his team, praising his players’ resilience and will-to-win mentality.

After the team’s passage to the quarter-final of the Concacaf Champions Cup on Tuesday, March 13, dominating the matchup against Jamaican club Cavaliers FC, Mascherano said: “I’m happy with the level that we showed today. I think we have taken a step forward. We felt comfortable on the pitch…We were able to control their counterattack, and that, for me, was the key to the match.”

Messi leads the charge, Miami fights back

After being rested for the last two league games, global Argentine star Lionel Andrès Messi played the full 90 minutes and was instrumental in Miami’s comeback. Atlanta United took an early lead in the 11th minute through its record-signing Ivory Coast striker Emmanuel Latte Lath’s goal (11’). 

However, just nine minutes after the host’s opener, Messi responded with a stunning goal. The Argentine intercepted the ball from an Atlanta defender at the edge of the box and dribbled past another before slotting it into the net past Guzan to level the score at 1-1.

After the two teams drew level, the match remained a tight contest. Both sides created multiple opportunities but struggled to break the deadlock until Miami finally did in the 89th minute. 

With this victory, Inter Miami extended its unbeaten run at the start of its 2025 season to eight games across all competitions and climbed to the top of the MLS’ Eastern Conference standings.

CONCACAF Champions Cup showdown

The win came just days after Inter Miami’s 2-0 victory over Jamaica’s Cavalier FC in the second leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16, defeating the Jamaicans 4-0 on aggregate. In the first leg match, Messi was rested due to muscle fatigue, while Tadeo Allende and Luis Suárez scored. Traveling to Jamaica, Messi started on the bench but came on in the 53rd minute for Suárez, who had already put Miami ahead. 

As the world champion and Inter Miami CF captain entered the match, he electrified the crowd at the National Stadium in Kingston, something the Argentine does everywhere he plays. The fans’ energy soared when Messi scored late in the game, securing his team’s passage to the next round of the Concacaf Champions Cup.

Looking ahead

Inter Miami continues its strong start to the season with this victory. With star players in top form, the Herons are shaping up to be serious contenders in both MLS and international competitions.

Inter Miami will enjoy a break before resuming MLS regular season action, hosting Philadelphia Union at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on March 29. They will certainly look to maintain their winning momentum. 

Meanwhile, Picault’s performance continues to spark conversations about his potential involvement with the Haitian national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. This week, he will join his Haitian teammates in Azerbaijan for a friendly match between the two countries on March 22 at the Olympic Stadium in Baku.

For now, though, the spotlight remains on  Picault’s clutch performance for his club—one that Miami fans won’t forget anytime soon.

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