36-year-old Messi is on fire!

21/04/2024

In this round of Major League Soccer (MLS) matches, Inter Miami returned to their home ground to face their old rivals, Nashville SC.

Last month, these two teams met in the U.S. Open Cup, with Inter Miami advancing after a 1-1 draw on aggregate. 

Especially in the home game, Inter Miami secured a 3-1 victory, with Messi finding the net.

Inter Miami 3-1 Nashville SC

Inter Miami has always struggled with their defense, and in this match, they once again created trouble for their teammates upfront. 

Just 2 minutes into the game, Inter Miami conceded a goal to the opponents. During a corner kick from the visitors, Negri inadvertently kicked the ball into his own net, giving Inter Miami an unfortunate 0-1 deficit.

Nashville SC leading with Negri's own goal

Luckily, they had Messi. Just a few minutes later, Messi helped the team equalize. 

He received a pass in the attacking third, penetrated the penalty area, had his shot blocked, but quickly got up and scored with a follow-up shot, leveling the score at 1-1.

Messi scored the equalizer 

In the 13th minute, Messi almost scored again. After dribbling past defenders in the attacking third, he attempted a shot, but the ball hit the post, missing a scoring opportunity.

Messi hit the post!

Before the end of the first half, Messi once again played a crucial role. He delivered a corner kick, finding Busquets at the near post, and the Spanish star headed the ball into the far corner, helping the team overturn the score to 2-1.

Messi assisted Busquest to scored!

In the second half, Inter Miami's defense did not make any more mistakes, and they even earned a penalty kick in the 81st minute, which Messi confidently converted, sealing a 3-1 victory over their opponents.

Messi scored again through penalty 

This comeback victory marked Inter Miami's second consecutive win. Messi not only scored 2 goals in the match but also provided 1 assist, putting in an outstanding performance and undoubtedly earning the title of the best player on the field.

With this victory, Inter Miami continues to sit at the top of the MLS Eastern Conference. Messi himself has also become the leading scorer in the MLS.

MLS top scorer, Messi

This season, Messi has already scored 7 goals in 6 MLS matches, showcasing a remarkable performance reminiscent of his peak years.

With Messi in such excellent form, he will lead the team's efforts to compete for the championship and make up for the disappointment of last season.

However, Inter Miami also faces a major issue. Due to the Copa America this year, Messi will miss several matches, which will undoubtedly impact the team's performance.

Can Messi lead Inter Miami to MLS champ?

Therefore, during Messi's absence, Inter Miami must do everything they can to maintain their position in the top eight of the league, so that when Messi returns, they can face the remaining matches with greater confidence.