In the 86th minute, Lionel Messi added another goal to his tally, marking his eighth goal in five matches since joining his new club. Inter Miami dominated the game, securing a resounding 4-0 victory over Charlotte in a Leagues Cup quarterfinal match on Friday night.
Lionel Messi’s remarkable goalscoring streak remains intact, just like Inter Miami’s winning run. In the 86th minute, Messi netted his eighth goal in five matches since joining his new club, propelling Inter Miami to a commanding 4-0 victory over Charlotte in a Leagues Cup quarterfinal clash on Friday night.
Messi’s scoring prowess has been on full display in all five of his appearances with Miami. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, who guided Argentina to World Cup victory last year, has yet to taste defeat with Miami. He has emerged triumphant in all five matchups thus far in the Leagues Cup, a tournament featuring 47 teams from MLS and Mexico’s premier league, which has now been narrowed down to the final four.
Next on the agenda for Messi and his new club is a semifinal showdown on Tuesday against either the Mexican side Queretaro or Philadelphia Union.
Charlotte came agonizingly close to keeping Messi from finding the back of the net. Almost.
Additional goals for Inter Miami were notched by Josef Martinez and Robert Thomas. Messi’s persistent pressure led to an own goal in the latter stages of the second half, followed by his own clinical finish in the dying moments to seal the deal.
Despite stiff competition from other sporting events in South Florida that night—including the Miami Dolphins’ preseason opener, the Miami Marlins hosting the New York Yankees, and a packed high school gym witnessing Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro in a pro-am league championship—the team managed to draw near a sellout at the 22,000-seat DRV PNK Stadium. The phenomenon of Messi-mania persisted, as anticipated. Fans clad in the new pink No. 10 jerseys departed content, a stark contrast to the pre-Messi era for Inter Miami supporters.
Before Messi’s arrival, Inter Miami had secured victory in only five out of 22 MLS matches in the season. However, with Messi in the lineup, the team has emerged victorious in all five of its Leagues Cup matches, now a mere two wins away from clinching the trophy.
Messi’s first significant opportunity arose 30 minutes into the match, as intricate short passes on the left side of the box created an opening for him from roughly 6 yards out. However, Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina thwarted his attempt, preserving what was then a 1-0 lead.
Unbeknownst to many, Inter Miami had already amassed all the offensive power it needed. Another prime chance arose in the 69th minute when Messi passed to Taylor, received the ball back, and faced an open net—only to have his shot from approximately 12 yards out in the heart of the box deflected away.
All Messi could do was gaze upward, offering a slight smile.
Inter Miami’s scoring spree began with Martinez’s successful conversion of a penalty kick in the 12th minute, following a takedown of Dixon Arroyo within the penalty box. This incident occurred shortly after Inter Miami’s unsuccessful appeal for a handball committed by Charlotte, a scenario that could have also resulted in a penalty kick being awarded.
The lead extended to 2-0 by the 32nd minute, as Taylor capitalized on a pass from DeAndre Yedlin near the apex of the box. Taylor executed a powerful one-timer that deflected off the outstretched hand of a diving Kahlina. Yedlin, positioned on the right wing, patiently awaited Taylor’s signal—pointing to the precise location where he intended to receive the ball. Yedlin’s accurate delivery met Taylor’s anticipation, culminating in Inter Miami’s second goal of the evening.
The third goal came in the form of an own goal, pushing Inter Miami’s advantage to 3-0, and subsequently, Messi sealed the victory.