Brace and assist from Messi bring another victory to Inter Miami

Today, in the context of the Major League Soccer regular season, Inter Miami visited Nashville.

From the opening minutes, three former Barcelona players graced the field: Sergio Busquets, Luis Suárez, and of course, Lionel Messi. Jordi Alba did not make the matchday squad.

The hosts quickly surged ahead. In the second minute, after a corner kick, Franco Negri inadvertently deflected the ball into his own net, allowing Nashville to take the lead.

However, the guests did not revel in their advantage for long, as on the eleventh minute, Lionel Messi was propelled into a striking position. Though he initially failed to best the goalkeeper, Suarez played a crucial role in the follow-up, laying off the ball to his partner, after which the Argentine eventually found the net.

Towards the end of the first half, in the 39th minute, the hosts earned a corner kick, which Messi expertly executed. Following the cross to the near post, Busquets won the aerial duel and directed the ball into the back of the net.

In the 80th minute, Leonardo Afonso won a penalty, which Messi stepped up to take. Messi calmly dispatched the ball, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and sealing the final score of the match.

MLS
Inter Miami 3 - Nashville 1
Goals: Messi 11’, 81’ (penalty), Busquets 39’ - Negri (own goal) 2’

With eighteen points, Inter Miami sits atop the Eastern Conference standings. However, it is worth noting that the star-studded ensemble has played the most matches in the conference, leaving them vulnerable to being overtaken by several competitors.