DC United's Donovan Pines scores MLS Goal of the Year candidate against Inter Miami

MLS can call its Goal of the Year race right now.

Donovan Pines settled the issue before the season was even halfway over, scoring a goal of unfathomable brilliance for D.C. United, who had otherwise struggled to break down 10-man Inter Miami in a 2-1 win.

In fact, Pines' goal is sure to draw the attention of the folks at FIFA who determine who wins the Puskás Award for the best goal in global soccer. No one in MLS is going to come even close to matching this absolute wondergoal.

The piece of wizardry came from an innocent-enough situation: Mateusz Klich's corner found Steven Birnbaum at the back post, and the United captain headed the ball back across goal toward Pines. From there ... what can we even say? It's a masterpiece.

D.C. United improves to 4-1-1 all-time and 2-0-1 in road matches with Inter Miami. D.C. United got back in the win column after struggling to a 1-3-3 record in May.

Inter Miami, which sacked coach Phil Neville earlier this week, lost its fifth straight match.