Lionel Messi helped Inter Miami defeat Real Salt Lake in the Major League Soccer season opener on Wednesday, contributing to both goals.
Argentina forward Messi started alongside Robert Taylor and the midfielder's shots in the first half were kept out by visiting keeper Zach McMath.
Messi, 36, also contributed to Miami's second goal, scored late on by Diego Gomez.
He linked up well with former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez and recorded an assist in his MLS debut.
Miami coach Gerardo Martino said of Messi's performance, “He looked relaxed and energetic and showed great speed.''
The 2022 World Cup winner missed the end of last season for David Beckham's MLS franchise due to injury.
Earlier this week, Messi released a video. defends his absence from friendly matches It was held in Hong Kong on February 5th following backlash from Chinese fans.
lineup
Inter Miami CF
formation 4-3-3
- 1Sender
- 2Yedlin
- 6AvilésReplacementAllenin 77 minutesminutes
- 27Kryvtsov
- 18Aruba
- twenty fourgresselReplacementMota Oliveira de Souzain 77 minutesminutes
- FiveBusquetsReplacementsunderlandin 84 minutesminutes
- 20gomezBooked in 68 minutes
- Tenmessi
- 9suarezReplacementcampanain 90 minutesminutes
- 16taylorReplacementLewisin 76 minutesminutes
substitute
- 7Mota Oliveira de Souza
- 8campana
- 15sailor
- 29Dos Santos
- 32Allen
- 41Lewis
- 43sunderland
- 49Voegelin
- 62shipwright
real salt lake
formation 4-2-3-1
- 18McMath
- 14energy
- 15happy
- Fourbella
- 2brody
- 6Ojeda
- 13PalacioReplacementbarajasin 66 minutesminutes
- 11gomezReplacementJulioin 66 minutesminutes
- 7LewisI made a reservation in 15 minutes
- 8LunaReplacementCaliscanin 73 minutesminutes
- 9arangoReplacementHidalgo statein 86 minutesminutes
substitute
- 3Oviedo
- 16Chan
- 17barajas
- 19Hidalgo state
- 20holt
- 29Julio
- 30Silver
- 35beaver
- 92Caliscan
- Referee:
- Cristian Campo
- Attendance:
- 21,137
