Tuesday night’s Leagues Cup encounter with Atlanta United proved to be a testament to a single player’s remarkable influence on a club. The player in question here was none other than Lionel Messi, who made a profound impact on Inter Miami’s game.
Having scored twice and provided an assist in his first starting match for Miami, Messi demonstrated his exceptional prowess on the pitch, bringing his total to three goals in just two games. This impressive performance led to Inter Miami holding a 3-0 lead at halftime, marking a historic moment as it was the first time such an event occurred in the club’s history.
The evening concluded with Miami basking in a 4-0 triumph. After delivering a remarkable performance, Messi exited the pitch in the 78th minute amidst a standing ovation, as countless fans sported his iconic No. 10 jersey. As the club’s owner, Mas, aptly said, “There will be a before and after Messi in football for this country.”
Unpacking Messi’s Stellar Gameplay
Only eight minutes into the game, Messi showcased his expertise with a goal initiated by a pass from his former Barcelona teammate, Sergio Busquets. A powerful surge followed by a strike that hit the right post and a swift tap-in for the rebound gave Miami the lead. Messi didn’t stop there. In the 22nd minute, he fired another goal off a pass from Robert Taylor, pushing Miami to a comfortable 2-0 lead.
Messi’s Miami debut in the Leagues Cup match against Mexican club Cruz Azul last Friday was no less momentous. He entered as a substitute in the 54th minute. He lived up to his reputation as the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and World Cup champion for Argentina by scoring the winning free-kick in extra time in front of an audience of approximately 21,000 spectators.
Though Deandre Yedlin had handed Messi the captain’s armband when he checked in on Friday, Messi walked onto the pitch on Tuesday wearing the armband, marking his ascension as the team leader.
With Messi drawing most of the attention from Atlanta’s defenders, this allowed other Miami players to step up their game. Robert Taylor scored in the 44th minute, and Messi played a crucial role in setting up his fourth goal in the 53rd minute.
Messi’s star power was on full display off the pitch, too, as he entered the field holding hands with DJ Khaled’s son. His exit was also marked by a fan invading the pitch to get close to the football legend. While this incident briefly disrupted the game, underscoring Messi’s immense popularity.
