Messi Shines as Inter Miami Triumphs in Playoff Opener

Messi Shines as Inter Miami Triumphs in Playoff Opener

Messi Shines as Inter Miami Triumphs in Playoff Opener

Lionel Messi scored two goals as Inter Miami defeated Nashville SC in their opening playoff match, a performance that has been described by Major League Soccer (MLS) Commissioner Don Garber as having "reset the trajectory for Major League Soccer."

Following the signing of a new three-year contract with Inter Miami on Thursday, Messi received the MLS Golden Boot from Garber before contributing to a 3-1 victory in the first game of the best-of-three first-round series on Friday.

The Argentine forward joined Inter Miami from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023. At 38 years old, Messi, an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, continues to impress with his performances in the United States.

In 2024, he was named the MLS Most Valuable Player after scoring 20 goals and providing 16 assists. This season, he has the opportunity to become the first player in league history to win the award consecutively, having accumulated 29 goals and 20 assists in 28 games.

Garber expressed his astonishment at Messi's impact, stating, "I don't think we ever could have imagined that Leo would have been able to deliver for this club, for this city, and for this league the way he has. He has reset the trajectory for Major League Soccer, and we were already doing pretty well. I think having three more years is just going to be another gift."

Despite Messi's individual accolades, he and Inter Miami are still in pursuit of the league's ultimate prize—the MLS Cup. After finishing first to win the 2024 Supporters' Shield, the franchise, which is part-owned by David Beckham and coached by Javier Mascherano, faced challenges in the playoffs.

Inter Miami secured a third-place finish in the standings this season but made a strong start to their playoff campaign with a victory in the first game of their series.

Messi opened the scoring with a diving header in the 19th minute, assisted by a floated cross from former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez. Tadeo Allende extended the lead in the second half, and Messi sealed the win with a close-range effort during stoppage time.

Nashville managed to score through Hany Mukhtar in the 11th minute of added time, but Inter Miami leads the series 1-0 as they head into the second game in Nashville on November 1. The series winners will advance to the Conference semi-finals, with a single match determining who progresses further. The MLS Cup final will also be decided in a one-off game.

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