Messi Sends Inter Miami to the Leagues Cup Final

It was a remarkable comeback for Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, who returned from injury to lead Inter Miami into the final of the Leagues Cup — the joint American and Mexican competition — scoring two of his team’s three goals in a 3-1 win over fellow MLS side Orlando City in Florida.

The 2022 World Cup champion had missed two consecutive matches for Inter Miami due to a right thigh injury, but the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was at the heart of his team’s resurgence and eventual victory. He converted a penalty in the 77th minute to bring Inter level after Croatian Marko Pašalić had given Orlando the lead (45+1).

Orlando were reduced to ten men after Slovenian defender David Brekalo received a second yellow card for deliberately pulling down Argentine substitute Tadeo Allende inside the box, denying him a clear scoring chance. That foul led to Messi’s equalizing penalty, before the Argentine superstar combined with former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba to put Inter Miami ahead (88). Venezuelan substitute Télasco Segovia then sealed the win with a third goal (90+1), ending Orlando’s hopes of a comeback.

Inter Miami advanced to the final of the competition, which they had already won in 2023 during Messi’s debut season in Major League Soccer following his move from French club Paris Saint-Germain.

Argentine Javier Morales, assistant coach to compatriot Javier Mascherano — who watched from the stands due to suspension after a red card in the previous match — said: “We can’t find the right words to describe Leo. He trained for just two or three days, then played 90 minutes, dictated the rhythm of the game, created chances, and scored goals.”

Messi, who had played only once since his injury on August 2, admitted he felt some anxiety, saying: “I prepared for this match because I knew how important it was, against a very strong opponent who had beaten us in our previous two meetings this year.” He added: “The truth is, I felt a bit of fear in the first half, but in the second half I was more relaxed.”

For his part, Orlando City coach Óscar Pareja expressed his frustration with the refereeing in the second half, particularly Brekalo’s second yellow card, insisting that it “wasn’t a yellow.”

But Morales countered: “It was clear the defender held Tadeo back. He would have scored if he hadn’t been stopped.”

Inter Miami will now travel to Seattle for the continental final next Sunday, where they will face the Seattle Sounders, who defeated MLS champions LA Galaxy 2-0 in California.