Lionel Messi Shines in Leagues Cup with Miami: 5 Goals in 3 Games

Messi, the star of Barcelona and PSG, made the much-discussed switch from Paris to Miami last month. Inter Miami was then last in the Major League Soccer, it could not win any of its 11 league matches.

The MLS is on hold for a while and will make way for the Leagues Cup for a few weeks. Messi made his debut in that cup competition with MLS and Mexican teams. Three matches later – and as many victories – his team is in the 1/8th finals.

In his first match against Cruz Azul, he was crowned match winner with a great free kick in the square in extra time. He was in the starting line-up for the first time against Atlanta (4-0), good for 2 goals and an assist.

Then he scored after 8 minutes, last night the 1-0 came a minute faster: good running action into the 16, control with the chest, run to the small back line and hit the ball hard with the left under the crossbar.

Orlando equalized quickly, Miami made the difference after the break: Josef Martinez converted a penalty and, 20 minutes from the end, put Messi on his way to his second: he kicked in the cross from close range with his right.

The public and MLS fans love it. Coach Tata Martino is not really surprised: “What I said earlier: with him the most difficult things become easier. We are talking about a player who scores 40 goals per season at the highest level.”

“It is not illogical that he has 5 goals in 3 games. I sometimes think that we exaggerate with increasingly bigger adjectives. We are simply talking about the best player in the world here.”

“He’s been doing this for 17, 18 years. He said he came here to be competitive and to win. And he keeps his word.”