Messi gets two goals, assist in first Inter Miami start

Lionel Messi scored two objectives and added an assist in a 4-0 win over Atlanta United as he and Sergio Busquets had been in Inter Miami CF’s beginning lineup Tuesday night time at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for the first time since becoming a member of the MLS facet.

It did not take lengthy for the previous Barcelona teammates to make an impression, with Busquets lofting an ideal ball over Atlanta’s protection to Messi, who missed his first try however put again the rebound to offer Miami a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute.

Messi added one other objective on a counterattack in the twenty second minute to double the margin with an assist from Robert Taylor, who scored Miami’s third to offer the workforce a 3-0 benefit at halftime of the Leagues Cup match.

Taylor scored the ultimate objective for Miami after the break with an assist from Messi, who was substituted in the 78th minute to a rousing ovation from the house crowd. Busquets left the sport six minutes earlier and was changed by Victor Ulloa.

“It was a good performance and I’m pleased we were able to make our fans happy. A very good game and we took another step in the right direction,” Miami supervisor Gerardo Martino stated.

Miami swept its group and moved on to the spherical of 32 in the Leagues Cup, in which it can host an opponent to be decided.

Atlanta turned the one hundredth membership that Messi has scored towards.

Busquets and Messi spent 13 years enjoying collectively in Barca’s first workforce earlier than the Argentine moved to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, they usually have remained shut buddies since their trophy-laden run at Camp Nou.

“So many years playing together, so it’s very easy to play with him,” Busquets stated. “I’m so happy to be by his side.”

Messi and Busquets got here on as substitutes in their debuts in a dramatic win over Cruz Azul on Friday that noticed Messi win the sport on the ultimate kick.

Martino managed Messi and Busquets for a season at Barcelona and stated after the match he wasn’t stunned to see them join for the opening objective.

“These two players are so good at what they do, they create space,” Martino stated.

“Since those two have gotten here, the spirit has changed,” Miami right-back DeAndre Yedlin stated. “Obviously, guys are really excited. But I think just their presence gives everybody more confidence. And I think also the teams that we’re playing against now have a bit of fear in their eyes. When those two are on the field, you know you’re in for a tough game.”

The match was additionally Martino’s first towards his former membership, which he led to the MLS Cup title in 2018. Martino, who was named Miami’s coach on June 28, confirmed Monday that Messi can be the workforce’s captain towards Atlanta and transferring ahead.

“I think the fans respond according to what they see and what the team transmits to them. Many come to see Lionel. Celebrities and regular fans. He stands out but he can also spread that support from the fans to the rest of the team,” Martino stated.

His ideas on followers leaving in droves after Messi was substituted: “I didn’t really notice. The type of player he is, Messi is a global star, some fans might only be here to see him, but he would prefer if the fans would stay until the end to applaud the team, but I can also understand it.”

On Friday, Messi produced a trademark second of magic to offer Miami a 2-1 win, curling a free kick from simply exterior the penalty space into the highest nook to place a bow on the storybook saga that noticed him finally signal with co-owner David Beckham’s facet in MLS.

Miami and Atlanta are at the moment enjoying in the inaugural Leagues Cup competitors — a World Cup-style event between MLS and Liga MX sides. Messi may make his official debut in an MLS recreation at house towards Charlotte on Aug. 20.

One participant who should await his debut is one other former Barcelona participant, Jordi Alba, who signed with Miami on July 20, however he was not included in Miami’s squad checklist for the sport towards Atlanta.

Information from ESPN contributor Ross Devonport and The Associated Press was used in this report.