Messi’s Stunning Return: Scores Twice and Assists Once in Miami’s 3-1 Victory
Lionel Messi made a spectacular comeback from injury on Saturday, scoring twice and assisting once in a 3-1 victory for Inter Miami over the Philadelphia Union. Messi’s performance was nothing short of sensational, marking his return with two goals in just four minutes and helping his team to a crucial win.
In his first match for Miami in over three months, Messi set a new Major League Soccer (MLS) record by becoming the fastest player to achieve 15 goals and 15 assists, reaching the milestone in just 19 games—10 matches fewer than anyone else. His contributions were pivotal as he played a role in all three of Miami’s goals during the match.
The game started poorly for Miami as they conceded a goal in the opening minute when Mikael Uhre scored past goalkeeper Drake Callender. Despite the early setback, Messi quickly turned the tide. He first equalized with a tap-in following a pass from Luis Suárez, then added his second goal four minutes later with another precise finish.
Philadelphia had a chance to level the score again in the 85th minute, but a crucial save from Callender kept Miami ahead. Shortly after, Messi set up Suárez for a goal, marking Suárez’s 17th of the season and setting a new club record for most goals scored in a single MLS regular season.
After the match, Messi, who had been sidelined since July 14 due to an injury sustained during the Copa América final with Argentina, reflected on his return. “I was a little tired,” he admitted. “The heat and humidity in Miami don’t help much, but I was eager to get back on the field. I had been away for a long time, but I trained hard with the team and I’m very happy to be back.”