Lionel Messi’s goals in the 2023 Leagues Cup

The land that curated the likes of Muhammed Ali, Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, and Serena Williams has a new GOAT to worship.

Soccer fans across the Atlantic would’ve been fully aware of the significance of Lionel Messi’s arrival, but perhaps not many expected the 36-year-old to have such a drastic and immediate impact on Inter Miami’s fortunes.

The Herons, who ended the first half of the MLS season at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, are now into the quarter-finals of the Leagues Cup off the back of more Messi magic on Sunday night. The Argentine scored twice as Miami edged out FC Dallas on penalties.

Messi’s brace means that he’s grabbed seven goals in four appearances and three Leagues Cup starts. He’s still really good at football, and some of his finishes have been trademark Lionel.

Here’s a ranking of the Argentine’s Inter Miami goals so far.

Was Atlanta’s pre-match plan to give Sergio Busquets as much time as possible in the middle of the park?

Given the freedom of Miami to do whatever he wanted with the ball, the Spaniard picked out Messi in behind and the Argentine played a one-two with the post before tapping into an empty net.

Not a classic, but the commentary sure made it feel like one.

The first iconic Robert Taylor x Messi connection on this list. The 36-year-old’s new favourite teammate picked out the Argentine in an acre of space in the Atlanta box after Messi received possession on halfway and slid Taylor in behind down the left.

It wasn’t the purest of Taylor deliveries, but it nonetheless bobbled towards the feet of its intended target and Messi made no mistake from close range.

If Atlanta’s ploy regarding Busquets was curious, then the work of the Orlando City backline in the opening minutes of their Leagues Cup round of 32 clash was just flat-out lunacy.

The bout was barely six minutes old when Messi ghosted in between a gaping chasm in the Orlando defence, chested down Taylor’s subtle cross and thumped home from six yards out.

In fairness to the Orlando midfielders who refused to track him, Messi’s run was timed to absolute perfection.

MLS defenders, can we please stop giving this genius an age in your box to do whatever he wants when the ball arrives at his feet? Forget your inverted full-backs and pressing schemes, you’re not beating Messi’s Miami if a concerted effort isn’t made to slow down the Argentine.

It was all too easy for Messi again as he scored his second in the win over Orlando. He only needed one touch on this occasion; guiding his weak-footed volley home on the swivel from close range.

We’ve seen this goal before, right?

This didn’t quite match Messi’s last-gasp winner in the April 2017 Clasico at the Bernabeu, but the strikes were very similar.

The Argentine latched onto Jordi Alba’s cutback to open the scoring against FC Dallas on Sunday night. It was a finish of unerring precision and one that’s been patented by Messi.

Thus, Alba’s first assist in America was certainly a familiar one.

Okay, now we’re getting into the really good stuff.

When Messi hasn’t literally been handed goals on a plate by defensive brain fades, he’s been bamboozling goalkeepers with his set-piece prowess.

With his side trailing to Dallas in the closing stages of their round of 16 Leagues Cup tie, Messi stepped up to the plate once more and drew Miami level with a majestic free kick from the ultimate “Messi territory” position.

Cliché, I know, but this was some way for Messi to announce himself to a North American audience.

The Argentine was given minutes off the bench in his first Inter Miami outing, and supporters didn’t have to wait long to catch their first glimpse of Messi’s magic.

With the contest level at one apiece, Messi had the chance to seal a crucial three points in the group stage of the competition. While his set-piece effort boasted similar significance to his later effort against Dallas, you’d argue that the degree of difficulty was slightly greater for this strike against Cruz Azul.

Pinpoint.

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