In just four minutes after returning from injury, Lionel Messi scored two goals and added an assist as Inter Miami defeated the Philadelphia Union 3-1 in Major League Soccer.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner had not participated in competition since suffering a right ankle injury on July 14, while supporting Argentina against Colombia in the Copa America final.
He had since missed his team’s eight Major League Baseball games as well as his nation’s World Cup qualifying matches this month.
Messi didn’t miss a beat as he was added to the starting lineup despite not having played for Inter since June 1.
Mikael Uhre’s left-footed effort from outside the area in the second minute gave Philadelphia the lead.
In the 26th minute, Messi equalised the score after receiving a pass from Luis Suarez, dribbling past Kai Wagner, and finishing a move started on the left by Jordi Alba with a right-footed shot.
When he put Inter ahead in the thirtyth minute, the jubilant supporters were still rejoicing. He connected with Alba once more and struck a left-footed effort from the centre of the pitch into the bottom right corner.
Before halftime, Inter believed Suarez had made it 3-1, but a VAR review reversed his goal.
However, Suarez scored a goal deep into injury time in the second half, with Messi—who also received his first MLS yellow card for lingering on a corner kick—supplying the assist.
With six games left in the regular season, Inter Miami’s lead over their nearest Eastern Conference rivals, FC Cincinnati, has been widened to 62 points as a result of the win.
Their spot in the MLS Cup playoffs has already been secured, and Messi’s two goals have put him back in the running to win the most goals in just 13 games.
Suarez, on the other hand, is now two goals behind Christian Benteke of DC United, who leads the MLS in scoring with 17.
Following a hearty greeting from 19,000 spectators at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale for Messi, the hosts had a brief scare when Uhre scored with just 58 seconds remaining.
After Argentine defender Tomas Aviles headed a cleared ball, the Danish attacker startled custodian Drake Callender with a blast against the post.
After intercepting a pass from Philadelphia, David Martinez, a centre back from Paraguay, was hurt a few minutes later, shocking Inter coach Gerardo Martino even more.
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