Lionel Messi had a magical night as Inter Miami clinched a nervy 3-1 on Saturday night to Orlando City in an entertaining MLS clash. The talismanic Argentine netted a brace and set up a goal to push his team nearer to a playoff position in the eastern conference. It was still at the friendly match played at the DRV PNK Stadium with full attendance from football lovers to believe that Messi, even at 37, still plays football as if he was 25 years.
At the first starting bell, fans saw how the main star of Barcelona changed the pace of the match. He opened Miami’s attacks perfectly and was always smart enough to pick out spots of space and deliver accurate passes through Orlando. The first half eventually produced a brilliant goal in the 23rd minute, where Messi took a free kick that bowed into the top right corner, with the keeper wasting time trying to cover it. The goal boosted the home support and paved the way for a one-sided Miami display.
Orlando City, to their credit, came back and leveled the match early in the second half with a fine goal by Facundo Torres. But this class was too much for the visitors, and Messi continued with his performances. In the 68th minute, he came up with a spectacular run, jinking past three defenders and then thrashing a shot past the goalkeeper and into the roof of the net to revive Miami’s lead and trigger wild celebrations in the stadium.
The last straw for Orlando was dealt in the 85th minute when Messi made an assist to deliver a cross for Martínez to score. The assist demonstrated that Messi is a utility player and a team player, something most of his colleagues have noted since his arrival in Miami. When the referee blew his whistle for the last time, the stadium erupted to the chant of Messi.
Inter Miami getting the win helps the team to stay within three games of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, with three games left in the regular season. Head coach Tata Martino praised Messi’s impact: “Leo’s quality is undeniable. He raises the level of all the people around him and says to us ‘just try, and you will accomplish big things.” It also sends Miami into the eighth match unbeaten and matches the start Messi enjoyed with the club after signing for the team.
The resultant performance in the match has brought back to life debates that MSG is the greatest player in football ever. Former soccer player in the United States national team, Alexi Lalas, was full of comments on the match, saying that what fans are being treated to is extraordinary. It’s not just that Messi is conforming to MLS but changing the very nature of the league. It extends beyond football – he’s shifting the perception of the league across the globe.”
Messi and Inter Miami will, therefore, be under scrutiny as the playoff season approaches. They have really turned the team around since he joined them and made them the team they are today from being basement dwellers. With Messi at this level playing for Miami, fans can fathom themselves making the playoffs and knocking deeply into the MLS Cup.
The win over Orlando City was an emphatic display from Inter Miami, and a message has been sent to the rest of the league. The regular season games continue, and as this team and Messi grow more confident, they become a formidable team against any team in MLS. The map of the leagues has, without any doubt, changed, and with Messi leading them, Inter Miami is very much part of this new age of soccer in America.