Lionel Messi wins his first trophy with Inter Miami

Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi is already leaving his imprint on the pitch with Inter Miami, as they won their first-ever trophy this past weekend. The former Barcelona man led his team to victory with a solid performance in the Leagues Cup final against Nashville.

Messi signed last month for Inter Miami, and the expectations were massive for the club. There was a lot of hype about the possibility of watching Messi in the MLS, and former Barcelona teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets have also followed suit, adding a bit more quality to a team that had struggled before their arrival.

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Regarding the Argentinian, it’s safe to say that Messi has enjoyed a very positive start in Miami. While the Major League Soccer still hasn’t started, Messi has had the possibility of endearing himself to the Inter Miami faithful with his performances, scoring 10 goals in 7 matches in the Leagues Cup. Many football fans had wondered if the former Barcelona forward would slow down in a less challenging league, but he mostly shows that he can still deliver.

Los 🔟 goles de nuestro 🔟 en la @leaguescup 🏆 pic.twitter.com/Hv9kMQuZ5l

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 21, 2023

A perfect example was in the recent Leagues Cup final against Nashville in the 24^th minute when he scored a phenomenal goal. He made a shot that hit the top corner and gave Inter Miami the lead in the final, although Nashville player Fafa Picault leveled the score in the second half. They would go to penalties after 90 minutes, and Inter Miami would end up winning with a 10-9 score.

That’s our keeper of the tournament 🧤👏 pic.twitter.com/v4uAFEtKgn

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 20, 2023

Inter Miami are entering their third season as a professional football club, and the institution founded and led by the legend David Beckham had been struggling. The side finished in the last place of the Major League Soccer in the previous season, and the football they played was just as dire, which is why even the owner himself said, after the final, that he was impressed by how much they have changed in recent weeks.

Beckham himself has pointed out that the “Barcelona trio” of Messi, Alba, and Busquets have been the ones that have turned things around in Miami, adding a degree of quality, winning experience, and know-how that the squad desperately needed. Messi, in particular, has of course been the driving force for the team and they have had a seven-game unbeaten run since his arrival.

While it is very soon to talk about challenging for greater trophies, this cup run is a very positive first step for the Messi-led version of Inter Miami. They have shown they can compete and that players such as the Argentinian can still provide in key moments, which is something they are going to need in the upcoming season.

When it comes to Messi, while it is true that his best years are already behind him, he still has something left in the tank and is proving that with every match at his new club.