Messi scores twice as Miami crush Atlanta

Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF dribbles the ball in the second half during the Leagues Cup 2023 match between Inter Miami CF and Atlanta United at DRV PNK Stadium on 25 July 2023 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida – AFP

FORT LAUDERDALE, AFP: Lionel Messi’s instant impact in the United States continued on Tuesday as he scored twice in Inter Miami’s 4-0 victory over Atlanta United, firing his team into the knockout rounds of the Leagues Cup.

The Argentine World Cup-winner was handed his first start for his new club after coming off the bench and grabbing a 94th-minute winner in Friday’s game against Mexican club Cruz Azul.

In his first game against a Major League Soccer club, Messi was simply too much for Atlanta to cope with and he struck up a fruitful understanding with Finnish winger Robert Taylor, who helped himself to Miami’s other two goals.

The Leagues Cup is a tournament which brings together all the top flight teams from MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX and with two wins Miami top their group and with their new arrival looking settled so quickly, they will surely believe they can get their first ever trophy.

Miami, bottom of the MLS standings, had not won for 11 league games prior to Messi’s arrival, but look utterly transformed by his impact, together former Barcelona team-mate Sergio Busquets.