Messi’s fresh MLS team is charging ahead into the knockout rounds of the Leagues Cup.
After his spectacular debut a few days back, the World Cup champion wasted no time, finding the net just eight minutes into his first start for Inter Miami.
The familiar connection between Messi and his buddy Sergio Busquets came into play once more, as Busquets skillfully surveyed the field and delivered a perfectly placed ball over the top to Messi.
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Busquets 🤝 Messi
Messi puts us in the lead early with his second goal for the Club 👏👏#MIAvATL | 1-0 | 📺#MLSSeasonPass on @AppleTV: https://t.co/JZtEpe9Hfa pic.twitter.com/GKujBMsW1V
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 25, 2023And as expected, Messi capitalized on the opportunity, adding another memorable goal to his impressive career.
Taylor ➡️ Messi for his second of the night to double the lead in the 22nd minute 👏#MIAvATL | 2-0 pic.twitter.com/bVvzkLJdDA
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 26, 2023Inter Miami didn’t hold back as they cruised to a dominant 4-0 victory over Atlanta United, securing their spot in the Leagues Cup Round of 32.
The visitors had a promising start with Giorgos Giakoumakis’ goal being disallowed due to an offside call, and Brooks Lennon’s cross smashing against the post.
However, once Messi found the back of the net, Inter Miami’s fortunes took a turn for the better.
In the 22nd minute, Messi showcased his brilliance again, initiating a play that eventually led to him finding the ball at his feet inside the box and scoring.
Just before halftime, Robert Taylor extended the lead with a fantastic strike, much to the delight of the enthusiastic sold-out crowd. Taylor has undoubtedly been one of the players benefiting immensely from Messi’s presence on the team.
The arrival of Messi and Busquets has clearly brought a newfound confidence and determination to the squad, evident in their exceptional performances in the last two games.
Miami’s fourth goal exemplified the positive impact of these star signings and highlighted the remarkable transformation of the team.
An unfortunate clearance by Atlanta gifted Messi the ball with plenty of open space and only one defender to contend with.
As Messi took control of the ball, Taylor positioned himself at the edge of the box but swiftly sprinted down the length of the field to be perfectly positioned for Messi’s assist, allowing him to score his second goal of the night.
It was an unexpected treat for viewers who tuned in for the Messi show, as they also got to witness the impressive Taylor show.
In the 72nd minute, Busquets made way for a substitution.
Then, in the 77th minute, Messi graciously handed off the captain’s armband to DeAndre Yedlin, warmly embraced his Argentina teammate Thiago Almada (who happened to be his opponent that night), and took a comfortable seat on the sideline, receiving a well-deserved standing ovation from the crowd.
For those keeping track, that’s now three goals and an assist in just 113 minutes of play for Messi.
If you haven’t been paying attention yet, it’s time to start because this is just the beginning of something truly remarkable.
