Leo Messi's magical start to life at Inter Miami continued Wednesday as he netted a brace to help his side beat Orlando City 3-1 in the Leagues Cup.

Match Report
Messi didn't wait long to give Miami the lead in the round of 32 matchup, as he volleyed in a Robert Taylor pass from close range in the seventh minute.
However, the hosts' lead would be short-lived as Cesar Araujo pounced on a loose ball 10 minutes later, quieting a South Florida crowd that once again packed DRV PNK Stadium to see its Argentine superstar.
And while the Argentine delivered another goal later in the match, his most memorable moment of the night may have actually been an assist - of sorts.
In the second half, Josef Martinez was brought down in the box while chasing a through ball from Benjamin Cremaschi.

And Messi deferred to his teammate Martinez from the penalty spot, allowing the Venezuelan to get on the scoresheet in the 51st minute to restore a 2-1 lead for Miami.
The goal, which came after Martinez stutter-stepped his way to the penalty spot, was the striker's first since Messi's arrival in South Beach.
From there, Miami was in control the rest of the way, and Messi capped off another devastating move in the 72nd minute to put the game on ice.
The 36-year-old, who now has five goals in his first three Miami games, scored another volley from close range - this time with his right foot - as Martinez teed him up following another accurate cross from Taylor.
While the hot start of the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner can't be considered surprising, it's been notable how his teammates have upped their play since his arrival.
Cremaschi, just 18 years old, put in a composed and intelligent midfield performance vs. Orlando, while Taylor continued his scorching run of form, notching his fifth goal involvement in the last three games.
'He just gives everybody confidence around him,' Messi's teammate, full-back DeAndre Yedlin, told Apple's MLS Season Pass after the game.
'You know you can give him balls in difficult situations and he's gonna make something out of it.
'And I think on the flip side of it, the teams that we're playing against, it puts a bit of fear in their eyes so they're on their heels a bit, they're dropping back a bit more and it gives us a little bit more space to play.'
Messi alone may be enough to scare opponents but he arrived in Miami with help.
Sergio Busquets debuted alongside him against Cruz Azul, while another ex-Barcelona teammate, Jordi Alba, made his first Miami appearance vs. Orlando.
Alba entered the match in the 64th minute for Noah Allen and helped Miami see out the final half hour.
With the win, the hosts moved onto the Leagues Cup round of 16, where they'll travel to Texas to face FC Dallas.
Match Events
7' GOAL! Inter Miami CF 1-0 Orlando City (Messi)
17' GOAL! Inter Miami CF 1-1 Orlando City (César Araújo)
21' Yellow Card! Messi booked
31' CHANCE! Messi's shot hits the bar
45' CLOSE! Messi's free kick stopped
51' Penalty Goal! Inter Miami CF 2-1 Orlando City (Josef Martínez)
66' Yellow Card! Diego Gómez booked
72' GOAL! Inter Miami CF 3-1 Orlando City (Messi)
84' Taylor's shot over the bar
Line-ups
Inter Miami CF XI: Messi, Sergiy Kryvtsov, Busquets, Dixon Arroyo, Josef Martínez, Robert Taylor, Yedlin, Kamal Miller, Drake Callender, Noah Allen, Benja Cremaschi
Subs: Alba, Víctor Ulloa, Robbie Robinson, CJ dos Santos, Harvey Neville, Shanyder Borgelin, Campana, Diego Gómez, Edison Azcona, Ryan Sailor, David Ruíz, Cole Jensen
Orlando City XI: P. Gallese, Mauricio Pereyra, Robin Jansson, W. Cartagena, Antônio Carlos, Kyle Smith, Iván Angulo, Rafael Santos, Facundo Torres, César Araújo, Duncan McGuire
Subs: Felipe Martins, Adam Grinwis, Ercan Kara, Martín Ojeda, Mason Stajduhar, Rodrigo Schlegel, Dagur Dan Thórhallsson, Jack Lynn, Luca Petrasso, Ramiro Enrique, Shak Mohammed, Abdi Salim
GobindaRanaXettri
1811
Martinez had failed to score in his last 4 games for Miami so Messi gave him to score a penalty to boost his confidence ❤️ Leader.❤️ The most unselfish player in the world. #LM10
GobindaRanaXettri
1237
They love Ronaldo and Haaland for their goal scoring. They love Debruyne for this playmaking. They love Neymar for his dribbling. They hate Messi for doing it all.
Mosanya
997
Avengers are myth, Messi is real🐐
Mosanya
867
Lionel Messi for Inter Miami 3 games 5 goals 1 assists Sometimes you’ve just got to appreciate greatness 🐐 🔥
Solomondechol
788
Messi hit the Wakanda Forever celebration 🙅♂️🐐💪🏿✊🏾 wakanda forever ♾ with the goat 🐐
deomodricdavid
711
Being a Madrid fan doesn't mean I am against the Real GOAT..! Messi is something special to all the rest of the players, whether u argue or not.! LM10🫡🫡🫡
GobindaRanaXettri
702
Bad week for small teams🥺💔 #LM10
trhhhhfff
655
The same comment again "Being a Messi fan is easy. You don't have to write long essay to describe how good he is.
GobindaRanaXettri
600
Gigi Buffon once said, "I had to touch Messi to make sure he's human like the rest of us." Happy retirement, a world cup winner and legend of the game 🧤
N0_N0NsENSE
537
Lionel Messi 🐐 is taking Inter Miami to new heights. Another brace 2️⃣ another win ☑️.
Kingval60
520
Messi has shown more fire at Miami than he did in his whole time at Paris, and I’m so here for it.
ChiloWest
513
Football world is gonna shake the day he retires 🤩🤩🤩 The Greatest Of All Times 🐐 Leo La-Pulga Messi 👑
Football_Messi
456
Messi didn't take the penalty.. btw do u know last season with PSG Messi didn't take a single penalty still scored 21 goals n 22 assist.. what a brilliant performance last season.. had PSG made the team play around Messi they would get more success.. rather than playing around mbappe
KingPami
453
GOAT 🐐
Kingval60
408
Messi to Miami. i came here to Help Sew the club but i need a Taylor.. 😃😃😃
Mosanya
398
Looks Like Lionel Messi might End up Breaking his own record of Scoring 91 goals in a Single Year 😭😭😭
DanielTemitope
385
Beckham and his wife relaxed with the team's performance... Easy, does it😁😁
Nikilong
358
Rick Ross 🗣 this is the first time I came to watch football and the atmosphere is amazing and we supported villa and will do the same for Messi Messi bring the entire America 🇺🇸 to Miami
bestnature
349
Lionel Messi will break the record for top scorer all time at the Inter Milan in just one season.❤️❤️❤️
Jude-Trigger
348
The bigger picture…
IsaacsQarterTomorrow
291
The greatest of all times... Messi is just Messi. How I wish he knew that he was Messi. ❤❤
kennedy1999
269
Bro still uses a bottle holder with a Barca logo at Inter Miami.
Solomondechol
228
Haters are asleep right now but the real ones stay awake all night and even miss school just to watch Lionel goat 🐐 Messi ✅💯🐐🔥 forever the goat 🐐🙌 we are still awake
barcakhid
195
Pain landed straight in camel 🐪 league 😂
bigfcber
178
You can find every gif of nice goals here: http://www.goalgif.xyz/v2/live/matchGifs?match_id=53665922&language=en
wishnu007
160
as Ronaldo fan i admit Messi is far better than him now💔
ChiloWest
151
Messi when my Goat Scores🤩
Doxmang
148
Lionel Messi about to win his 8th Ballon D'or, GOAT for a reason, who says NO? 🐐🫅🏆👉👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑🐐🙌
Lordberny
126
I don’t care what anyone will say Messi turned this team around from them not winning a single game in 13 matches to 3 back to back wins and busi has played a big part in organizing that midfield.
Domcemsuyz
18
Martinez had failed to score in his last 4 games for Miami so Messi gave him to score a penalty to boost his confidence ❤️ Leader.❤️ The most unselfish player in the world. #LM10
[image]
Leo is not just a good player, he is also a good human. All his teammates love him wherever he goes.
GobindaRanaXettri
18
Bad week for small teams🥺💔 #LM10
[image]
Gigi Buffon once said, "I had to touch Messi to make sure he's human like the rest of us." Happy retirement, a world cup winner and legend of the game.🧤
mupbcdinty
16
Martinez had failed to score in his last 4 games for Miami so Messi gave him to score a penalty to boost his confidence ❤️ Leader.❤️ The most unselfish player in the world. #LM10
[image]
cr5 would never do this
RounakMukherjee
16
Martinez had failed to score in his last 4 games for Miami so Messi gave him to score a penalty to boost his confidence ❤️ Leader.❤️ The most unselfish player in the world. #LM10
[image]
what a captain💙 Did the same with Ibrahimovic while at Barca. Gave away his hattrick yet again today🐐
Caeabdnpty
15
except he became nothing at psg and ran away to play 'soccer'
he became "something " on 18.12.2022
Cring_Santa
12
Martinez had failed to score in his last 4 games for Miami so Messi gave him to score a penalty to boost his confidence ❤️ Leader.❤️ The most unselfish player in the world. #LM10
[image]
Yes surely a leader and king 👑
psychopath_monstar
11
Martinez had failed to score in his last 4 games for Miami so Messi gave him to score a penalty to boost his confidence ❤️ Leader.❤️ The most unselfish player in the world. #LM10
[image]
Goat for a reason 🐐
drnade
9
They love Ronaldo and Haaland for their goal scoring. They love Debruyne for this playmaking. They love Neymar for his dribbling. They hate Messi for doing it all.
[image]
that's how Europeans are. they hate the truth
Domcemsuyz
8
Martinez had failed to score in his last 4 games for Miami so Messi gave him to score a penalty to boost his confidence ❤️ Leader.❤️ The most unselfish player in the world. #LM10
[image]
Leo is not a good player, he is also a good human. All his teammates love him wherever he goes.
AngeloMunik
8
Bad week for small teams🥺💔 #LM10
[image]
Yeah, a very bad week for all of them Messi haters.🤣