Then came two assists as 10-man Inter Miami came back to draw NYCFC in their MLS opener.The latest was an absolute stunner, as Messi plucked a Luis Suarez pass out of the air, then scorched the inside of the near post with an across-body rocket.

A gorgeous first-half goal from Lionel Messi set the tone for Inter Miami, which won the second leg of its Concacaf Champions Cup first-round matchup against Sporting Kansas City by a comfortable 3-1 margin on Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Since joining Inter Miami in the summer of 2023, Lionel Messi has completely changed the landscape of Major League Soccer.He helped the Herons hoist their first-ever trophy, winning the Leagues Cup in his maiden tournament.