Lionel Messi returned to the pitch with a dazzling performance, providing two assists to help Inter Miami secure a last-minute 2-1 win over Liga MX’s Atlas in their Leagues Cup opening match on Wednesday night.
His competitive spirit was on full display, as he euphorically celebrated the second goal in front of Atlas striker Matias Coccaro, who had scored the equalizer for Atlas earlier in the match. However, after the game, the Uruguayan clarified that there wasn’t any bad blood between them.
“After the match, he came over to apologize,” Coccaro told reporters in Spanish, according to a video shared by ESPN’s SportsCenter. “Honestly, that says everything about the kind of person he is. The guy has won it all, and at 38 years old, he’s still in incredible shape. And he comes and yells the goal in my face, and you realize—this guy still wants to win. And honestly, I can’t say anything to him,” he explained.
“He’s the greatest of all time, and when someone like that comes at you… honestly, I told him: ‘With you, I shut my mouth.’ Not with any other player, but with him, I stay quiet. And with Luis Suarez, who’s my idol. In that sense, it’s about respect. You tip your hat and keep your mouth shut,” Coccaro added.
Meanwhile, cameras also captured the moment Messi went to talk to Coccaro, with both men embracing each other. The Argentine star also gave him his jersey, further proving that any incident stayed on the pitch.
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Messi’s strong performance
Just back from serving a one-game suspension for missing the MLS All-Star Game, Messi was key to Miami’s triumph. He delivered an assist to Marcelo Weigandt, who scored the game-winner in the dying moments of stoppage time. He also set up Telasco Segovia’s 58th-minute opener after a sharp exchange with longtime teammate Sergio Busquets.
With the assists, Messi has now recorded 388 assists in his professional career, extending his own record as the player with the most officially recorded assists. He is also Inter Miami’s all-time assist leader with 27, ahead of Suárez (25).
“It’s a tournament we always show up for,” Messi said in Spanish during a post-match interview with Apple TV. “We played really well against a very good team,” he added.
Now, Miami will face two other Liga MX teams: Necaxa (on Sunday, August 2) and Pumas UNAM (on Wednesday, August 6) to close out Phase One of the tournament.
