Messi continues to shine after 1-match ban

Right from the first minutes, the match was a tight affair. Messi and Inter Miami controlled the ball better. However, Atlas had more shots, signaling that it would not be an easy match for the home team.

The deadlock was broken after the break. In the 58th minute, Miami's relentless attack paid off.

From a clever through ball from Busquets into the box, Messi made a great assist by putting Segovia in a position with an empty goal. The young striker did not miss the opportunity to tap the ball into the empty net and 1-0 for Inter Miami.

However, the surprise happened in the 80th minute. From a quick counter-attack, Hernandez passed the player marking him and passed into the penalty area, creating an opportunity for Lozano to tap the ball close to the goal, leveling the score 1-1 for Atlas.

It seemed like the match would end in a draw, but a surprise happened in the last minute of extra time. In the 90+6 minute, a beautiful attacking combination ended with a delicate cross pass from Messi. And Weigandt scored, sealing a dramatic 2-1 victory for Inter Miami.

In this match, rookie Rodrigo De Paul made his debut in the starting lineup. He partnered Sergio Busquets in the center of the midfield, supporting Messi in the attacking midfield role. In the attack, the trio of Luis Suarez, Telasco Segovia and Tadeo Allende appeared.

In the next two matches at the 2025 Leagues Cup, Messi will join Inter Miami to face Necaxa on August 2 and Unam on August 6.