Lionel Messi continued his stellar start for Inter Miami on Sunday, scoring a brace in the team’s Leagues Cup round of 16 encounter against FC Dallas. The clubs battled to a thrilling 4-4 tie in regulation time before Miami won on penalties 5-3 to progress to the League Cup quarterfinals. Here’s what you should know:
Lionel Messi scores twice as Inter Miami defeats FC Dallas on penalties in the League Cup.
Messi scored twice, including a game-tying free kick from far outside the area in the 85th minute that curled into the top right corner of the net.
In four games with Inter Miami, the Argentine has seven goals and one assist. He most recently scored twice in a 3-1 victory over Orlando City SC on August 2.
Dallas’ Facundo Quignón (37th minute) and Bernard Kamungo (45th minute) scored, along with a freekick goal by Alan Velasco and an own goal by Inter Miami’s Robert Taylor in the second half.
Messi’s deal with the MLS team is for two and a half seasons, with an option to extend for another year in the 2026 season. The annual value of the arrangement is roughly $50-60 million, which includes his share in Inter Miami.
Lionel Messi scores twice as Inter Miami defeats FC Dallas on penalties in the League Cup.
HE DID IT AGAIN. 🤯
LEO MESSI. FREE KICK. EQUALIZER. 4-4. pic.twitter.com/Yh1TXFDENH
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 7, 2023
The Messi show continues
Messi continued to put on a performance in an Inter Miami jersey. Two more goals tonight in Frisco, including a stunning free kick in the 85th minute to tie the game at 4-4. His free kick against FC Dallas was possibly greater than his goal against Cruz Azul in his first Inter Miami encounter. It struck the top right corner of the net, just barely kissing the underside of the crossbar and giving Dallas keeper Maarten Paes little chance to make the save.
Inter Miami advanced, but more significantly, Messi proceeded to prove himself worth every penny of the Miami owners’ investment thus far by delivering in the most vital moments.
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