Lionel Messi did it again Saturday night with a spectacular goal vs. Nashville SC in the Leagues Cup final as Inter Miami won 10-9 on penalty kicks after drawing 1-1 after 90 minutes.
United States men’s national team fans could only watch on in horror as our beautiful defensive prince Walker Zimmerman was torn to shreds along with the rest of the Nashville defense in the 23rd minute.
Up until that point Nashville had nullified the Messi effect. The Argentine had touched the ball only a handful of times and had no impact on the game yet.
Then Nashville made a mistake. They gave Messi an inch.
Messi goal vs Nashville SC
Out of this WORLD.
Take a bow, Leo Messi. pic.twitter.com/qm90VJtVbc— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 20, 2023
This view of Messi’s goal pic.twitter.com/CszZrXIBx4
— Stu Holden (@stuholden) August 20, 2023
Messi’s goal from this angle is INSANE pic.twitter.com/rLfQAMcX5C
— MC (@CrewsMat10) August 20, 2023
He simply can’t be stopped as that was his 10th goal in the Leagues Cup. He’s never not scored for Inter Miami.
A lot of credit needs to go to Nashville for their response to the Miami goal. In the first half Nashville only allowed two shots and had halted the seemingly unstoppable Miami offense.
The hosts clawed their way back into the game and got their reward off a corner in the 57th minute with Fafá Picault equalizing.
SET. PIECES.
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 20, 2023
Both sides would have quality chances to win the game as the second half progressed. Messi nearly had another long-distance goal in the 71st minute but was denied by the post.
Inches away from another Messi strike.
Still even at 1-1. Catch the finale on #MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/zMquhP1RY8 pic.twitter.com/IhUCg2Dqo7— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 20, 2023
Zimmerman, who had a fantastic second half, did well to find Hany Mukhtar and spring a counterattack minutes later. Mukhtar passed the ball on to Sam Surridge but he was unable to beat Drake Callender.
All hell broke loose in the final seconds as Sergio Busquets supplied a perfect ball to Leonardo Campana who was in on goal but made a mess of a potential game-winning goal.
WHAT JUST HAPPENED?! pic.twitter.com/1oWsikLLzk
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 20, 2023
The game would go onto penalties where fans got to see every player, including the goalkeepers, take a kick. It was a shootout clinic from both sides with perfect kick after perfect kick.
It entered the 11th round tied at 9-9. Callender scored his kick with a rocket shot and then saved the following kick.
WHAT. AN. ENDING.
The moment Drake Callender won it with a save for @InterMiamiCF! pic.twitter.com/Krx8sOfX6I— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 20, 2023
The Inter Miami players tossed Messi in the air celebrating their club’s first-ever title.
Another trophy for Leo. pic.twitter.com/SYoqBQDXTc
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 20, 2023
This is the 44th trophy in Messi’s career which makes him the winningest player in the history of the sport. No other player has won more than the little boy from Rosario.
MESSI LIFTS INTER MIAMI’S FIRST EVER TROPHY pic.twitter.com/Jx1nqWYCe6
— MC (@CrewsMat10) August 20, 2023
Special moment between Beckham and Messi. pic.twitter.com/TmgHxvuWEp
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 20, 2023
