When it looked like he was about to suffer his first setback in the US, Lionel Messi stepped up to help Inter Miami reach the 2023 Leagues Cup quarterfinals. Following a dramatic 4-4 draw in regular time, the Herons beat Dallas FC 5-3 in the penalty shootout.
The Argentine superstar put his side in front only five minutes into the game, but the hosts eventually hit back. Facundo Quignon and Bernard Kamungo turned things around before halftime, with Alan Velasco extending Dallas’ lead in the second half. Benjamin Cremaschi put Inter Miami back in the game, though an own goal by Robert Taylor put Messi’s team in a tough spot.
However, Gerardo Martino’s men never gave up and it paid off. An own goal by Marco Farfan put them just one goal away from tying the match, and Messi made sure to keep his team’s hopes alive with a fantastic free-kick goal. On penalties, Leo’s side got the upper hand. Of course, social media went wild.
Best memes and reactions to Messi’s Inter Miami beating Dallas in an eight-goal thriller
With this victory, Inter Miami will take on the winner of Charlotte FC – Houston Dynamo in the 2023 Leagues Cup quarterfinals. Needless to say, the Herons will always have reasons to believe as long as Messi is on the field.
Martin O'Donnell is a bilingual sports writer fluent in English and Spanish, currently serving as the Managing Editor of Bolavip. He began his journey with the website in February 2021, making a name for himself through comprehensive coverage of multiple sports, including NFL and soccer, with a specialty in original content and real-time reporting of major events such as the World Cup, UEFA Champions League finals, and the Super Bowl. In June 2024, Martin took on the role of Subeditor, where he excelled in overseeing the publication of stories, assisting staff writers, and ensuring content quality. His prior experience includes managing social media for CONMEBOL Libertadores and Sudamericana in English and Spanish, as well as reporting on Brazilian football for Sambafoot. Known for his meticulous attention to detail and ability to capture breaking news, Martin has consistently been a valuable asset to the Bolavip team, especially during crucial sports seasons involving trades, playoffs, and finals. Now, as the Managing Editor since May 2025, Martin brings his extensive experience and keen editorial sense to lead Bolavip’s team, driving the website's growth and ensuring it remains a top source for sports news and analysis with interviews and exclusive content.
