FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Inter Miami hosted the reigning MLS champions LA Galaxy in a match that saw Lionel Messi return from injury.
After missing two weeks due to a muscle injury in his right leg, Messi didn’t start the match but later came on as a second-half substitute.
Rodrigo De Paul also entered the game in the second half.
With the game tied at 1-1, the Herons needed a spark to secure three crucial points.
Messi delivered.
In the 84th minute, De Paul set up Messi for a long-range strike from outside the box that snuck into the bottom left corner, giving Inter Miami the lead.
And Messi wasn’t done.
Five minutes later, he received a pass from De Paul and then delivered a backheel pass to Luis Suárez, who scored the dagger third goal for Inter Miami.
The Argentine star changed the game with his goal and assist. However, manager Javier Mascherano said Messi is still not at full health.
“He’s an extraordinary player,” Mascherano said. “I also saw that he clearly wasn’t 100% comfortable.”
Mascherano added that the club will continue to manage Messi’s recovery day by day.
Thanks to his goal and assist, Messi is now the first player with 30 goal contributions (19 goals, 11 assists) in the MLS season.
Inter Miami’s next match is against Mexican side Tigres in the Leagues Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday.
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