Lionel Messi made a statement in his return match with Inter Miami, scoring two goals in four minutes for his MLS side.
Messi returned to the pitch for the first time since suffering an ankle injury in Argentina’s Copa America title match against Colombia in July.
The Argentine brought the South Beach fans to their feet, scoring a quick double to help Miami take the lead over the Philadelphia Union.
Their first goal came in the 26th minute, with the Garzas trailing 1-0. Jordi Alba dribbled the ball through the middle before connecting with Luis Suarez. The former Barcelona trio completed the move after Suarez produced a perfect one-touch pass that eluded a Union defender.
The ball ended up at the feet of Messi, who touched the ball into space, made his defender turn and placed the ball into the bottom left corner.
Lionel Messi scored two goals in four minutes in his first game with Inter Miami in three months
Less than four minutes later, Alba and Messi linked up again to break the 1-1 tie.
The Spanish full-back found himself unmarked in the corner of the area before cutting a pass inside. After the ball bounced off Suarez’s hands, Messi beat the opposition with his magical left foot and sent the ball into the far corner for his first goal.
Messi came into the game with 12 goals and 13 assists in 11 appearances for Inter Miami this season.
The Argentine’s last appearance in MLS was a goal as the Herons drew 3-3 in a thrilling game against Saint Louis.
Messi missed 13 games with the Garzas due to an ankle injury he suffered with Argentina
Messi’s first-half brace puts him in a three-way tie for fourth in MLS goals scored with FC Dallas’ Petar Musa and Philadelphia’s Daniel Gazdag. Despite missing 13 games with the Herons, Messi ranks third in assists behind Portland’s Evander.
Miami sits comfortably atop the league with 28 wins and 19 losses and 62 points. In the Easter Conference, Cincinnati sits ten points behind Messi and company.
Meanwhile, LA Galaxy also have 52 points at 28-15, leading the Western Conference.
