Lionel Messi at Inter Miami still seems surreal. The Miami-based club just faced FC Dallas in the RO16 of the Leagues Cup. The two teams have already played each once earlier this year. While FC Dallas managed to narrowly win the previous game, this one turned out to be an absolute thriller going right down to the wire followed by a penalty shootout.

Would you believe that Messi hasn’t even made his MLS debut yet? The 7x Ballon d’Or winner just scored in his fourth straight game, with an outside-the-box banger reminiscent of his debut dream goal.

Inter Miami wins again but this time by the skin of their teeth, fans react

Lionel Messi gave Inter Miami an early lead after slotting one past the goalkeeper in the 6th minute. Minutes before halftime, FC Dallas leveled the scoresheet with a goal from Facundo Quignon. Immediately after that Bernard Kamungo scored and all of a sudden FC Dallas had the lead. At halftime, while walking down the tunnel the Miami-based club seemed to be well aware that they need a magical comeback from 2-1.

For Inter Miami, things turned from bad to worse in the second half after FC Dallas’ Alan Velasco doubled the lead. Miami’s Benjamin Cremaschi had an immediate answer as he dragged one back immediately. But Robert Taylor’s own goal gave them a two-goal lead again with about twenty minutes to go. But the drama wasn’t done yet. In fact, it had just begun.

An own goal from Marco Farfan made things rather intriguing. And Messi turned that belief into reality by canceling out FC Dallas’ lead with a stunning freekick. With five minutes to go, the scoresheet was level at 4-4. After no definite winner in 90 minutes, the result was down to penalties. Messi, Busquets, Campana, Miller, and Cremaschi all converted their penalties and won the penalty shootout 3-5.

Here’s how the fans reacted to the absolute thriller.

A fan quotes that ‘Messi is the greatest thing to ever happen to the US’.

It was a thriller for sure but most of it was only possible with the presence of the soccer veteran!

The score before the 80th minute was 2-4. Even with a two-goal deficit, everyone was still ready to believe because Messi was on the pitch.

With every game, it just gets better and better, doesn’t it?

Unreal, surreal, dreamy? These were just some of the words associated with him these days.

Here’s the real appreciation. Non-Messi fans are also star-struck by the Argentine soccer legend’s arrival and instant impact in the US.

This game turned out to be quite a thriller. After initially taking the lead in the sixth minute, Messi and his team were only playing catch-up for the rest of the game. FC Dallas ended up choking badly as the soccer veteran made sure that he got his team over the line. The fanbase went through a bit of deja-vu after he equalized the scoreline in the dying minutes of the game with a banger from outside the box. The game then went on to penalties. How could you possibly lose a game, if you convert five out of five penalties? Picture perfect!

READ MORE: “Match Is Fixed. Stop Promoting” – Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami Bashed After Controversial Refereeing Decisions in 3–1 Win Over Orlando City

Inter Miami, who are languishing at the bottom of the league, now seem to be far more prepared to put up a fight in the MLS.

Lionel Messi gears up to achieve big with Inter Miami

The Argentine soccer legend started his journey at Inter Miami with a last-minute screamer in the Leagues Cup. Since then, he scored at least a goal in each of his four games. While the fans wait for his MLS debut, they are now fancying some silverware this season. The Miami-based club could potentially win the US Open Cup along with the Leagues Cup with Messi at the helm.

Apart from signing the World Cup winner, the club has also signed two of his old FC Barcelona pals. The ever-famous trio including Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba have already raised Miami’s gameplay to another level. Interestingly, it hasn’t even been a month yet! Multiple celebrities and big names have urged the soccer fanbase in America to show the Argentine legend some love at his new club.

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What were your thoughts on today’s nail-biter? Let us know in the comments below.