In a thrilling return to MLS action, Lionel Messi dazzled fans with a remarkable performance for Inter Miami against the Philadelphia Union. The Argentine superstar had a hand in every goal as he led his team to a 3-1 victory on Saturday night.
Messi opened the scoring with two clinical finishes in the first half, before providing an assist in the second half to secure the win for his team. Playing for more than 90 minutes, Messi showed his class and skill on the pitch once again.
The 37-year-old had been sidelined since June 1 when he last featured for Inter Miami before joining the Argentina national team for the Copa America tournament. His return was eagerly anticipated by fans and teammates alike.
Inter Miami coach Tata Martino expressed his delight at Messi’s performance, stating postgame, “I’m happy that (Messi) was able to play 90 minutes and that he felt good. The rest of his story is up to (the media) to tell.”
Four minutes after his first goal, Messi struck again with a clinical finish from inside the box. Teammate Jordi Alba provided the assist, setting up Messi for another memorable moment on the field.
Reflecting on his return, Messi commented in Spanish during the postgame broadcast, “I was a bit tired. The humidity and weather in Miami didn’t help. I really wanted to be back. Too much time off the pitch had passed. I rejoined the group little by little. I began to feel better. We decided that I’d start tonight. I’m really happy.”
Despite Messi’s absence, Inter Miami had maintained an excellent run of form in the league. With a 10-point lead over second-place FC Cincinnati in both the Eastern Conference and Supporters’ Shield standings, the team has shown its strength and determination throughout the season.
“We know the team that we have. It’s an objective of ours. We’re aware of it and we have to take responsibility. We’ve had a lot of bad luck with injuries,” Messi acknowledged. “We’ve never had the full squad for one reason or another. The team always pushed forward. Right now we’re on top of the table by a wide margin and it’s deserved. Hopefully we can finish as high as possible considering what’s next for us.”
As Inter Miami continues its impressive campaign, fans can look forward to more magic from Messi and his teammates in the remaining six regular-season games. With the Argentine maestro back in action, anything is possible for the team as they chase glory in the league.
