Lionel Messi scored in Inter Miami’s first game outside of Florida, with a perfect finish into the bottom corner from outside the penalty box.
Messi’s left-footed shot from just outside the penalty box past FC Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes inside the left post in the sixth minute on Sunday night, giving Miami a 1-0 lead.
The head referee first declared Josef Martinez offside for interfering with Paes’ view, but the call was overturned on review.
Another game. Another goal. Just Messi things. 🐐
After Video Review, his sixth goal in four matches stands! pic.twitter.com/SZLTppHm9D
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 7, 2023
Messi came up big again in the 85th minute, helping Inter Miami tie the game at 4-4 with a sensational free-kick goal.
HE DID IT AGAIN. 🤯
LEO MESSI. FREE KICK. EQUALIZER. 4-4. pic.twitter.com/Yh1TXFDENH
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 7, 2023
Messi has scored in all 4 games since joining Miami, totalling 6 goals. Prior to the Leagues Cup round of 16 matches in Frisco, about thirty miles north of Dallas, he had three straight multigoal games.
Messi scored twice in the first Leagus Cup knockout game, which was delayed by an hour and a half due to a torrential rainstorm in Florida.
On the 14th consecutive day in the Dallas area that reached triple digit heat, Messi’s illustrious career’s 5th game in Texas began with a kickoff temperature of 38 degrees Celsius.
Teams took a heat break around the 25-minute mark of the first half due to the high temperatures.
The winner of the round of 16 match will take on the winner of Monday night’s game between Charlotte FC and Houston in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals.