Messi Shines in Inter Miami’s Victory

Lionel Messi never fails to draw a crowd, and this time he delivered with an impressive performance as Inter Miami claimed victory.

On Saturday, in front of a packed house of 75,824 at Empower Field in Commerce, Colorado, Messi scored two goals, including a stunning game-winner in the 79th minute. Inter Miami triumphed over the Colorado Rapids with a final score of 3-2, which also saw Mexican striker Germain Bertelam find the net.

This match recorded the second-largest attendance in MLS history.

This game marked Miami’s first outing since Javier Mascherano stepped down as head coach merely four months after leading the team to its inaugural MLS Cup victory.

For Messi, this must’ve been a significant match, especially considering his long-standing relationship with interim coach Guillermo Hoyos. Hoyos has been part of Barcelona’s esteemed La Masia academy for over two decades and was previously the sporting director at Inter Miami.

In a post-match press conference, Hoyos expressed his excitement, saying, “It was a great experience because we have very high quality players here, including some of the greatest players in history.” He added, “I got excited many times because soccer is really all about emotion and passion.”

Messi opened the scoring with a penalty kick in the 13th minute, but it was his late-game goal that showcased his skill most dramatically. After a turnover near Colorado’s midfield, he expertly maneuvered near the right corner of the penalty area and unleashed a powerful shot that skipped past two defenders and nestled inside the back post.

With this performance, Messi now has seven goals this season, tying him at the top of the MLS scoring chart alongside Sam Surridge and Petar Moussa.

Miami now holds a record of 4-1-3, having not suffered a defeat since their opening match when they lost 3-0 to Los Angeles FC. The Rapids, on the other hand, were on a winning streak, having claimed victory in three of their last four games.