World star Lionel Messi continues to score as he pleases. At the start of the MLS playoffs, he leads Miami to victory.
Argentinian world star Lionel Messi gave Inter Miami an optimal start to the Major League Soccer playoffs. Shortly after extending his contract until 2028, the 38-year-old scored two goals in the 3-1 (1-0) win in the first game of the best-of-three series against Nashville SC, featuring German player Hany Mukhtar.
Messi secured the lead in the 18th minute with an assist from his teammate Luis Suárez, and in stoppage time (90+6), the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner scored to make it 3-0. Shortly after, Mukhtar scored the consolation goal (90+11) for the visitors from the US state of Tennessee, who will host Messi and Miami next Saturday (0:30 CEST) for the second match.
Lionel Messi scored twice at the start of the playoffs
Messi extends contract with Miami
Before the match against Nashville, Messi was awarded the Golden Boot after scoring 29 goals in 28 games during the regular season. Overall, the striker has scored 73 goals in 83 games for Miami, making him Inter’s all-time top scorer.
On Thursday, Inter and the league announced Messi’s contract extension. Messi moved from Paris Saint-Germain to the USA in the summer of 2023, joining the Florida franchise.