Moments ago, Lionel Messi made his much-awaited MLS debut, much to the joy of soccer fans around the world. While fans were initially disappointed to see La Pulga not start the match, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner more than made up for it with his 30-minute cameo as he essayed every role on the soccer pitch like a pro.
Tasked with retaining ball possession to protect their slender 1-0 lead, the match demanded Leo to be at his dribbling best. Luckily for Inter Miami fans, La Pulga executed the job to perfection. Moreover, he topped it off with a brilliant superhero-esque dribbling goal, with praises coming from Argentine teammate Angel Di Maria.
Angel Di Maria marvels at La Pulga’s incredible MLS debut
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It’s truly incredible how the World Cup winner has been positively contributing for Miami since his arrival. Every match has been a spectacle and filled with goals and assists. So far, Leo has scored 11 goals in 9 matches which is simply astonishing. Thanks to Messi’s yet another goal-scoring exploit in America, Angel Di Maria took to Instagram to express shower his comrade with praise.
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After Messi posted his debut matchday pictures on Instagram, Di Maria commented the most releatable statement to all soccer fans right now, where the ex-Juventus winger playfully urged Leo to stop this madness. “Deja te volviste loco enano,” which roughly translates to “Stop it, you’ve gone crazy, you crazy dwarf!” commented Di Maria under Messi’s post.
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As entertaining Di Maria’s comment is, one cannot overlook Messi’s ‘Doctor Strange’ like skills today. Thanks to his relentless starts, Leo was forcefully given a rest by coach Martino. However even in 30 minutes, the Argentine managed to weave his magic.
Lionel Messi delivers a complete performance in his MLS debut
Stepping onto the field in the 60th minute as a direct response to the New York Red Bulls’ counter-press strategy, Leo’s entry triggered a complete overhaul in the Herons’ approach to ball possession. His adept ball control took the spotlight as he collaborated with Sergio Busquets to manage their slim 1-0 lead. Unfortunately for New York Red Bulls, they discovered the three certainties of life. Death, taxes, and Leo Messi scoring a goal!
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Thanks to his dynamic passing and dribbling performance throughout, Messi’s efforts finally bore fruit at the end. In the 90th minute, the Barca legend orchestrated his own goal with impeccable dribbling inside the penalty area. The setup was aided by young talent Benjamin Cremaschi, who only needed to do a simple job – a straightforward cross.
This job was simplified thanks to Messi and Alba’s heavy lifting beforehand. The goal’s standout feature was Messi’s sorcerer-type close control, allowing him to elude his marker and deliver a precise through-ball pass to Cremaschi. Another highlight of the goal was Jordi Alba’s bicycle kick esque touch to set Messi up. The play concluded with an effortless tap-in finish, showcasing pure brilliance and team effort.
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How would you rate Messi’s debut MLS performance? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!