Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets had a sensational start for Inter Miami on Tuesday, July 25, as they secured a dominant 4-0 victory against their MLS rivals, Atlanta United, in the League Cup competition at DRV PNK Stadium.
After his dramatic match-winning goal on debut against Cruz Azul last Friday, the Argentine superstar, Messi, showcased his exceptional skills once again against Atlanta United last night.
Inter Miami, currently ranked seventh in the Eastern Conference MLS standings, handed a humiliating defeat to last-placed Atlanta United in the Leagues Cup game, and they became the first MLS team to experience the awe-inspiring devastation brought forth by Messi's exceptional performance on the field.
In just eight minutes of his first start, Messi opened the scoring for Inter Miami. He continued his brilliance by netting his second goal in the first 22 minutes of the match, and in celebration, he pointed towards Inter Miami owner David Beckham.
The next two goals were scored by Robert Taylor, with the second one being assisted by Messi. Speaking after the match, Taylor praised Messi, saying;
“He can do everything on the ball. He can keep it in tight spaces, and he makes the right decision 100% of the time.
“Most of the time he’ll find one of his team-mates. He brings so much quality to the team, so much. I mean, he’s the best player in the world.
“This is what he does – he scores two goals, he scored last game, gets another assist. It’s a dream come true to play with him.”
Messi, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, had only recently joined his team-mates in training, following his move to Major League Soccer from Paris St-Germain (PSG) after the end of his contract.
The 2022 World Cup winner had an impressive stint with the French champions, scoring 32 goals in 75 games. Despite lucrative offers from other countries, Messi chose to play in the US.