Lionel Messi has already started tearing it apart in the United States even before his Major League Soccer debut for his new club, Inter Miami.
The Argentine had spent all his years tormenting football players in Europe and the time is here for those in the United States to have a taste of how it feels to compete against one regarded as the greatest of all time.
Messi made the move to the United States to join David Beckham’s Inter Miami. It first occurred as a shock to all and sundry, who had hoped he was on his way back to Barcelona as speculation over his future intensified earlier in the summer.
The world has since accepted that the most decorated player in the history of the beautiful game now plays for Inter Miami of the Major League Soccer.
On his debut against Cruz Azul on the 22nd of July in the League Cup, the seven time Ballon d’or winner came off the bench to score a trademark free-kick in the 94th minute to win the game, which was at the time tied at one each.
The free-kick goal not only secured a first win against top-flight opposition for Inter Miami since May but also saw him scored his 63rd career free-kick goal, extending his record as the scorer of the most free-kick goals of all active players.
On the 26th, the Argentine took to the field again, this time earning his first start and after just eight minutes, he opened the scoring, firing home a rebound after his initial effort came off the woodwork.
Messi, who left PSG this summer as a free agent doubled the lead in the 22nd minute from a very good low cross from Finland international, Robert Taylor.
Robert Taylor’s strike just before the break made it 3-0, and in the process, Inter Miami achieved their biggest halftime lead in the club’s history.
Robert Taylor completed his brace as Lionel Messi registered his first assist in the colours of Inter Miami six minutes before the hour mark to equal the higest winning margin in the club’s history – achieved in a 5-1 win over FC Cincinnati in October 2021.
The impact of Messi is starting to show on the team, both on and off the pitch but more importantly on the pitch as Inter Miami, who had not won a game in six attempts before his debut has now won two in a row.
Still languishing at the bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference, Inter Miami returns to action after the break by playing host to Charlotte FC in the league and that will be a task for Messi to help resurrect their campaign, with the Championship play-off fast approaching.
Inter Miami still some way behind qualification but with Lionel Messi’s arrival, aided by the signing of Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, fans can remain optimistic that their season might get even better.
Kehinde Hassan Afolabi
