Lionel Messi made a victorious return from injury, scoring twice to lead Inter Miami to a 3-1 win against Philadelphia Union on Saturday.
Inter Miami faced an early setback when Philadelphia Union scored 59 seconds into the match. Despite a valiant effort by the goalkeeper to keep the ball out, the early goal put the visitors ahead.
However, Messi quickly turned the game around. In a showcase of his connection with South American teammate Luis Suárez, Messi received a precise pass from Suárez, dribbled past a defender, and leveled the score with a brilliant finish.
Messi’s second goal came from a familiar setup. Jordi Alba, another former Barcelona teammate now with Inter Miami, delivered a well-timed pass into the penalty area. Messi capitalized on the opportunity, scoring his second goal of the match and putting Inter Miami in the lead.
Though Messi set up a potential third goal with a pass to Suárez, the goal was ruled out after a VAR review confirmed Messi was offside.
In the second half, Luis Suárez added another goal, with Messi providing the assist. Inter Miami maintained their dominance throughout the match, further solidifying their position at the top of the league standings.
Messi’s return to form is a significant boost for Inter Miami as they continue their pursuit of the league title.
