Inter Miami 2-0 Real Salt Lake: Lionel Messi stars with audacious flick in Major League Soccer opener

Lionel Messi had a hand in both goals as he helped Inter Miami beat Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer’s season opener on Wednesday.

Argentina forward Messi played in Robert Taylor for the first, with the midfielder’s first-half shot squeezing under visiting keeper Zac MacMath.

Messi, 36, also had a hand in Miami’s late second goal scored by Diego Gomez.

He linked up well with former Barcelona team-mate Luis Suarez, who registered an assist on his MLS debut.

“He looked loose, fine and showed a lot of speed,” Miami coach Gerardo Martino said of Messi’s performance.

The 2022 World Cup winner missed the back end of last season for David Beckham’s MLS franchise through injury.

Earlier this week, Messi released a video to defend his absence from a friendly in Hong Kong on 5 February after a backlash from Chinese fans.

Line-ups

Inter Miami CF

Formation 4-3-3

• 1Callender

• 2Yedlin

• 6Avilés Substituted forAllenat 77’minutes

• 27Kryvtsov

• 18Alba

• 24Gressel Substituted forMota Oliveira de Sousaat 77’minutes

• 5Busquets Substituted forSunderlandat 84’minutes

• 20GómezBooked at 68mins

• 10Messi

• 9Suárez Substituted forCampanaat 90’minutes

• 16Taylor Substituted forRuízat 76’minutes

Substitutes

• 7Mota Oliveira de Sousa

• 8Campana

• 15Sailor

• 29dos Santos

• 32Allen

• 41Ruíz

• 43Sunderland

• 49Borgelin

• 62Boatwright

Real Salt Lake

Formation 4-2-3-1

• 18MacMath

• 14Eneli

• 15Glad

• 4Vera

• 2Brody

• 6Ojeda

• 13Palacio Substituted forBarajasat 66’minutes

• 11Gómez Substituted forJulioat 66’minutes

• 7RuizBooked at 15mins

• 8Luna Substituted forCaliskanat 73’minutes

• 9Arango Substituted forHidalgoat 86’minutes

Substitutes

• 3Oviedo

• 16Chang

• 17Barajas

• 19Hidalgo

• 20Holt

• 29Julio

• 30Silva

• 35Beavers

• 92Caliskan

Referee:Cristian CampoAttendance:21,137