Messi scores twice, assists in first Inter Miami start
Lionel Messi scored twice and assisted once on his first start for Inter Miami in a 4-0 win over Atlanta United.
The Argentina star, 36, scored two inside the opening 22 minutes before setting up team-mate, Robert Taylor, in the second half.
After netting his second, Messi celebrated by pointing at Inter Miami owner, David Beckham.
His performance follows a match-winning stoppage-time free-kick on his debut last week.
Messi, who is a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, only trained with his team-mates for the first time last week after moving to the Major League Soccer side following the end of his contract at Paris St-Germain.
Messi opened the scoring in the ninth minute, firing home a rebound from his own shot after controlling a ball over the top former Barcelona team-mate and fellow new arrival, Sergio Busquets.
He doubled the lead 13 minutes later, combining with Finland midfielder, Taylor, to slot home a low cross from close-range.
Taylor added a third before half-time, before Messi put the 28-year-old through on the break in the second half to complete the scoring.
Messi was substituted in the 78th minute to a standing ovation, with a number of fans leaving the 20,000-seat DRV PNK Stadium shortly afterwards.
The win saw Inter Miami move into the knockout stages of the Leagues Cup. —BBC
