Lionel Messi scored twice and assisted once in Inter Miami CF’s 4-0 triumph against Atlanta United on Tuesday night at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as he and Sergio Busquets started for the first time since joining the MLS club.
It didn’t take long for the former Barcelona colleagues to make an impression, with Busquets lofting a superb pass over Atlanta’s defence to Messi, who missed his initial effort but knocked back the rebound in the eighth minute to give Miami a 1-0 lead.
Messi scored again on a counterattack in the 22nd minute, this time with an assist from Robert Taylor, who scored Miami’s third goal to give the side a 3-0 lead at halftime of the Leagues Cup encounter.
Taylor scored Miami’s last goal after the intermission, assisted by Messi, who was replaced in the 78th minute to a loud ovation from the home fans. Six minutes earlier, Busquets exited the game and was replaced by Victor Ulloa.
“It was a good performance, and I’m glad we were able to please our fans.” “It was a very good game, and we took another step forward,” Miami manager Gerardo Martino remarked.
Miami won its group and advanced to the Leagues Cup round of 32, where it will face an opponent to be selected.
Atlanta became Messi’s 100th club against which he has scored.
Busquets and Messi played together in Barcelona’s first squad for 13 years until the Argentine went to PSG in 2021, and they have remained good friends since their trophy-laden era at Camp Nou.
“We’ve spent so much time together, it’s very easy to play with him,” Busquets remarked. “I’m so happy to be by his side.”
Messi and Busquets made their debuts as replacements in a thrilling triumph against Cruz Azul on Friday, with Messi winning on the penultimate kick.
Martino oversaw Messi and Busquets at Barcelona for a season and said after the game that he wasn’t shocked to see them combine for the first goal.
“These two players are so good at what they do, they create space,” observed Martino.
“The spirit has changed since those two arrived,” Miami right-back DeAndre Yedlin said. “Obviously, the players are really delighted. However, I believe that their very existence boosts everyone’s confidence. And I believe the teams we’re facing today have a twinge of dread in their eyes. You know you’re in for a difficult game when those two are on the pitch.”
Martino’s first game against his old team, who he guided to the MLS Cup triumph in 2018. Martino, who took over as Miami’s coach on June 28, said on Monday that Messi will serve as the team’s captain against Atlanta and in the future.
“I believe fans react based on what they see and what the team communicates to them.” Many people came to watch Lionel. Celebrities as well as common fans. “He stands out, but he can also spread the fans’ love to the rest of the team,” Martino added.
“I didn’t really notice,” he said of supporters departing in droves when Messi was replaced. Messi is a worldwide celebrity, and some fans may just be here to watch him, but he would prefer if the supporters stayed until the finish to celebrate the team, which I can understand.”
On Friday, Messi delivered a characteristic moment of magic to give Miami a 2-1 victory, striking a free kick from just beyond the penalty area into the top corner to put an end to the epic drama that saw him eventually sign with co-owner David Beckham’s MLS team.
Miami and Atlanta are now competing in the first Leagues Cup, a World Cup-style competition involving MLS and Liga MX teams. Messi might make his formal MLS debut on Aug. 20 against Charlotte at home.
Another former Barcelona player who will have to wait for his debut is Jordi Alba, who joined with Miami on July 20 but was not included to the roster for the game against Atlanta.
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