In a rain-affected match, Messi scored twice for Inter Miami in a game against Orlando City. Messi netted his first goal within seven minutes of the match, followed by a second strike in the 72nd minute.
Continuing his impressive performance, Messi scored in the third consecutive game and showcased another brilliant double-goal display for Inter Miami. The League Cup competition against Orlando City started with a delay of 95 minutes due to the storm on Wednesday night.
Messi’s initial goal came when he intercepted a pass from Robert Taylor near the six-yard box, dribbled a few yards towards the sideline, and converted a shot into a goal that went beneath the crossbar.
His goal gave Inter Miami a 1-0 lead in the Round of 32 match. Orlando leveled the score 11 minutes later.
Messi struck again as he received a centering pass from Joseph Martinez, and with a shot from his right foot, he found the back of the net, hitting the inside of the left post, putting Inter Miami ahead 3-1.
Early in the second half, Messi faced a scare when he collided with Orlando’s Mauricio Pereira. Messi remained on the ground, clutching his jaw for a few minutes.
Messi received his first yellow card with Inter Miami when he was cautioned for a hard foul in the 21st minute.
The match, originally scheduled to start at 8 PM, was delayed due to the storm, leading to a late kickoff. Messi and his teammates were on the field for warm-up 45 minutes before the rescheduled kickoff time. Approximately 20 minutes later, heavy rain began.
After the stadium crew worked to clear the water around the midfield area, the team returned for the second phase of pre-game warm-up.
Since joining MLS Club, Messi has encountered adverse weather conditions in his first two league cup matches. He scored a winning goal against Cruz Azul and contributed two goals in the victory against Atlanta United. Messi’s former Barcelona teammate, Jordi Alba, has also made a debut appearance for Inter Miami.