Lionel Messi Shines with Two Goals and an Assist in His Debut Start for Inter Miami.
For Inter Miami CF’s starting lineup against Atlanta United, Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets put on an incredible show of brilliance and chemistry. At the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Messi’s exceptional abilities were on full display as he scored two goals and supplied an assist, greatly aiding Inter Miami’s 4-0 triumph.
The former Barcelona colleagues didn’t take long to demonstrate their chemistry as Busquets perfectly lofted a pass over Atlanta’s defense to Messi. In spite of missing his initial shot, Messi quickly recovered and scored, giving Miami a 1-0 advantage in the eighth minute of the game. The pair put up a great display for the spectators and football fans, reinforcing their credentials as elite athletes. The future looks bright for Inter Miami CF as Messi and Busquets continue to click with their new squad.
In the 22nd minute of the Leagues Cup game, Messi scored his second goal on a counterattack, essentially increasing Miami’s lead thanks to a helper from Robert Taylor. After thereafter, Taylor scored Miami’s third goal, giving the club a 3-0 lead at the break.
Taylor scored again in the second half, this time with a helper from Messi. Messi was replaced in the 78th minute, and the home crowd gave him a thunderous standing ovation as he left the field. Victor Ulloa took over for Busquets six minutes prior to Messi’s substitution.
Gerardo Martino, the manager of Miami, acknowledged his happiness with the team’s performance and their capacity to cheer up the crowd. He described the game as being extremely good and said it was another step in the right direction.
Miami won their group and moved on to the League Cup round of 32 as a result of their accomplishment. In the forthcoming games, the squad is currently scheduled to host an unnamed foe.
Notably, Lionel Messi’s goal against Atlanta was the 100th of his storied career that he has scored against various teams.
Before Messi left for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, Busquets and Messi played together for Barcelona’s first team for an amazing 13 years. Their bond has persisted despite their separation on the pitch because of their prosperous and trophy-filled period at Camp Nou.
Messi and Busquets both made their Miami debuts, making substitute appearances and contributing significantly to a thrilling victory over Cruz Azul. Messi’s crucial contribution on the game’s final kick gave the squad the victory.
When Messi and Busquets combined for the game’s opening goal, Gerardo Martino, who oversaw both players while at Barcelona, expressed no surprise. He highlighted their talents for making room on the field and congratulated them for their skills.
Since Messi and Busquets joined the Miami club, the team has changed dramatically as a result of their presence. DeAndre Yedlin, a right-back, remarked that their presence has given the club more confidence and has even made opposition teams nervous when facing Miami. The team’s performance and aura have improved thanks to their talent and repute.
It’s interesting to note that Martino’s first game against Atlanta was also against his old team, who he helped win the MLS Cup in 2018. Messi’s selection as the club’s captain strengthens his position as a team leader for Miami.
Martino underlined that Messi’s presence attracts a lot of interest from both fans and famous people. But he also thinks Messi’s effect goes beyond himself because he can motivate the team as a whole and foster. Overall, the arrival of Messi and Busquets has energized, instilled a winning attitude in, and boosted the confidence of the Miami club, paving the way for an exciting Leagues Cup run and future endeavors . Martino’s response when asked about the significant number of fans that left after Messi was replaced was, “I didn’t pay much attention to it. Given his international fame, some fans could travel just to watch Messi. However, he would like it if the spectators stayed to congratulate the entire squad at the conclusion. However, I can also appreciate their viewpoint.
On Friday, Miami won 2-1 thanks to a moment of brilliance from Lionel Messi, who displayed his signature brilliance. He skillfully curled a free kick from just outside the penalty area into the top corner to bring the fairytale drama that resulted in his signing with the MLS team co-owned by David Beckham to a thrilling climax.
Miami and Atlanta are now competing in the first Leagues Cup competition, a competition including teams from both Major League Soccer and Liga MX that has a format similar to the World Cup. The anticipation surrounding the team will increase when Messi makes his formal MLS debut during Miami’s home game against Charlotte on August 20.
The debut of Jordi Alba, another ex-Barcelona player who joined Miami on July 20, will have to wait. He was left off the roster for the game versus Atlanta.
The Associated Press and ESPN contributor Ross Devonport provided the information for this article, which offers insights into Messi’s influence on the club as well as the widely anticipated debut of other well-known players like Jordi Alba.