If there is a player who is demonstrating that he still has a lot to offer in top-level football, that is Lionel Andrés Messi. The former player of FC Barcelona, a club to which, by the way, speculation has been circulating that he would intend to return in the near future, has started the 2024-25 season in full swing with Inter Miami, a team with which he has already played three matches so far: one in the Major League Soccer (MLS) and the other two in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Precisely, in this recently mentioned competition, the Argentine left his mark in the victory of 'Las Garzas' against Sporting Kansas City 3-1. Messi scored the goal that opened the scoring in the 19th minute, an authentic wonder goal in which he controlled an aerial pass with his chest on the edge of the area, courtesy of 'The Gunfighter' Luis Suárez.
Once he had possession of the ball, he unleashed a fierce left-footed shot that, despite having an opponent in front, did not deviate from its path towards the goal guarded by John Pulskamp. Despite the stretch of the American goalkeeper, he could do little to repel that 'thunderbolt'.
That was the first step of a rout that was closed in the first half, as in the 45+1st minute, the Argentine right winger, Tadeo Allende, scored from a pass by Jordi Alba, and then in the 45+3rd minute, the third goal came courtesy of Luis Suárez, who with an almost acrobatic finish made it 3-0 on the 'scoreboard', giving the Miami team an advantage that Sporting Kansas City could barely reduce with a goal from Memo Rodríguez in the 63rd minute.
That goal only served to swell the statistics of the midfielder, as, ultimately, Inter Miami won the match 3-1. They also won the series with an aggregate score of 4-1, following the 0-1 result from the first leg at Sporting Park.
Leo Messi and a 2024-25 season that started at full throttle
Speaking specifically of Leo Messi, the icon of this Inter Miami, he has started the 2024-25 season with promising numbers for the American team. Of the three official matches that 'Las Garzas' have played this season, where they have scored a total of six goals, the Argentine has been involved in four of them, scoring two goals and providing two assists, making it clear that he is still in great shape and can continue to make history in a team where he is currently the all-time leading goal scorer and assist provider.
| No. | Date | Competition | Match | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20/02/2025 | CONCACAF CHAMPIONS CUP | Sporting Kansas City 0-1 Inter Miami | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | 23/02/2025 | MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER (MLS) | Inter Miami 2-2 New York City | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | 26/02/2025 | CONCACAF CHAMPIONS CUP | Inter Miami 3-1 Sporting Kansas City | 1 | 0 |
Messi and Suárez, a golden partnership
Furthermore, with the assist that Luis Suárez provided to Leo Messi in this match, they have reached a century of mutual collaborations, as they have contributed a total of 100 goals between them. 'Lucho' has assisted the Rosario native on a total of 55 occasions, while the Argentine has provided a total of 45 assists to the Uruguayan. A truly unstoppable partnership.