Lionel Messi scores brace as Inter Miami beat Orlando City (3-1)
The Argentine superstar continues to have fun at his new club. For the second consecutive game, Lionel Messi has recorded a brace for Inter Miami, who advanced to the 2023 Leagues Cup round of 16.
Lionel Messi couldn’t have asked for a better start at Inter Miami. The Argentine superstar has already scored in all three games he played so far, showing why he’s changing MLS forever. In the meantime, his team continues to advance in the 2023 Leagues Cup.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner sent home a last-gasp free-kick goal in his debut to secure the win against Cruz Azul, later recording a brace and an assist in his first start vs. Atlanta United.
And it took only seven minutes for Leo to gave his side the lead in the derby against Orlando City. In the second half, Messi extened the Herons’ lead after a key pass from Josef Martinez. With a 3-1 win against the rivals, the South Florida team set up a meeting against Dallas FC in the Leagues Cup round of 16.
Watch: Messi’s double for Inter Miami vs. Orlando City
Robert Taylor has clearly found chemistry with Messi, providing him a great assist for the Argentine captain to finish in style in the box. Watch the video:
In the second half, Josef Martinez gave Messi a golden chance to make it 3-1 and the number 10 was merciless.
Martin O'Donnell is a bilingual sports writer fluent in English and Spanish, with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications. Since joining Bolavip in February 2021, he has extensively covered soccer, NFL, and NBA, specializing in real-time coverage of major events such as the World Cup, UEFA Champions League finals, and the Super Bowl. Martin’s prior experience includes managing social media for the CONMEBOL Libertadores and Sudamericana in English and reporting on Brazilian football for Sambafoot. At Bolavip, he is known for his meticulous coverage during critical sports seasons—covering trades, playoffs, and finals—and for keeping a close eye on soccer icons Lionel Messi at Inter Miami and Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr. His attention to detail and ability to capture breaking news have made him a valuable asset to the team.