Lionel Messi Keeps Inter Miami CF On Course For Leagues Cup Glory

Lionel Messi’s arrival has made Inter Miami CF must-see viewing over the past couple of weeks, and both the player and his team have rewarded viewers with a good run in the Leagues Cup.

Miami were expected to make a swift exit from the competition after the draw was made, but the arrival of Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba has changed all of that, and they are now the bookmakers’ favourites to go all the way.

Messi made his debut off the bench in their opening group game against Cruz Azul. He played the role of super sub to perfection though, curling home a free-kick deep in added time to snatch a 2-1 win over the Mexican side.

Fans did not have to wait as long for a goal in his next outing though. The Argentinian star was handed a starting role for the game against Atlanta United, with Miami knowing that a victory would see them cruise into the knockout stage.

Busquets made his debut in this one, but it was Messi who quickly grabbed the headlines as he wasted no time in setting his team on their way to victory. He broke the deadlock with just eight minutes on the clock and then added a further goal on 22 minutes as Miami went on to hammer their domestic rivals 4-0 and finish top of the group.

That victory set up a last-32 meeting with another Major League Soccer rival, Orlando City, and they again stormed to victory on the back of a Messi double, with Alba making his debut in the win. Messi again opened the scoring, firing home on seven minutes, and this time he wrapped up the win with a goal 18 minutes from time.

That has set up a last-16 showdown with FC Dallas on Saturday, and if Messi, Busquets and Alba can inspire their team-mates once more, Inter Miami will be just three wins away from a tournament success that looked improbable several weeks ago.

“What we have seen so far is that they [the Inter Miami players] are growing,” said manager Gerardo Martino after the win against Orlando City.

“They are not overshadowed by the greatness of the three players that we are talking about but instead are focused on being able to learn from everything that they have done in their careers.

“It is not easy for the players that we have here to receive players with so much history, with so many titles, with such good ability, with such a legacy in world football. In that sense, I think we are on the right track.”

Inter Milan are now among the favourites with leading betting company Stake to win the Leagues Cup.