Messi has stood out with his impressive performance in Miami, already accumulating eight goals in five games. The addition of him to the team, along with other notable stars such as Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, has transformed Inter into a winning team that aspires to win the tournament that pits teams from the MLS (United States and Canada) against the Mexican league.
On Tuesday, the team will head to Philadelphia for the semifinals, where they will face the Philadelphia Union, who previously bested Mexican team Querétaro. With determination and a determined mindset, Sergio Busquets shared on Apple TV after the game: “I came here with the intention and the mindset to turn the tide of Miami’s season, and I think we’re getting there faster than anticipated.”
Guided by Busquets’ mastery in the midfield, the local players showed a fluid and comfortable rhythm of play. They took advantage of their control of the ball against an opponent more focused on blocking Messi’s advances than threatening the goal defended by Drake Callender.
The scoring opened with a seemingly trivial play inside the box, where a clash between defender Harrison Afful and Dixon Arroyo led the referee to award a penalty after consulting VAR. Messi handed the ball over to Josef Martinez, who beat the goalkeeper with a precise shot to the right post.
Although Messi did not directly influence the second goal, he led offensive actions that culminated in a goal scored by Robert Taylor, further strengthening Inter’s position. As the game wore on, Charlotte tried to rally but failed to materialize their chances.
In a brilliant counter-attacking play, Messi contributed to Inter’s third goal, which materialized with an unfortunate own goal by Adilson Malanda. Despite the fact that Messi had not scored up to that point, his connection to the fans and his leadership on and off the pitch were evident when he sealed the scoring with a spectacular goal, celebrating with a special dedication to his sons.
This League Cup victory presents Messi with an early opportunity to chase a club title outside of Europe. Inter coach Gerardo Martino highlighted not only his contribution on the pitch but also his influential leadership off it. The League Cup offers three berths to the 2024 Concacaf Champions League and a pathway to the Club World Cup, giving Inter a more promising prospect than in MLS, where they currently sit bottom, facing a series of challenges to reach the playoffs.