Lionel Messi’s spectacle is the best entertainment in American sport right now, perhaps because it’s guaranteed.
More than a month and 8 games in Messi’s career at Inter Miami, and every game has been marked by a goal or an assist.
Messi has already helped Miami win its first title, having scored 10 goals and provided one assist in the League Cup campaign, which ended with Miami beating Nashville on penalties in the final .
The Herons are now in the final of the US Open Cup, after another penalty shootout victory against Cincinnati this time. Inter were trailing by two goals when Messi turned into a setter for Leonardo Campana.
Messi ▶️ Campana to put us on the board! #CINvMIA | 2-1 pic.twitter.com/We41VuhFYs
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 24, 2023
And in the 97th minute he was there again to complete the comeback, finding Campana for the crucial equaliser.
Josef Martinez scored three minutes into extra time, but Cincinnati fought back and equalized through Japan international Yuya Kubo seven minutes from time.
Another more Leo for Leo in el minuto 97! 🤯🔥 pic.twitter.com/5n5JMsjS1T
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 24, 2023
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LIONEL MESSI CONVERTS HIS PENALTY. ✅ pic.twitter.com/dFO2zjljHB
— WATCH MESSI FOR FREE (more in bio) (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 24, 2023
Messi converted his penalty in the penalty shootout, which Miami won 5-4, thanks to another save from Drake Callender, as it did in the League Cup final.
They will now face Hector Herrera’s Houston Dynamo, who beat Real Salt Lake 3-1. The final will take place on September 27.