Messi admits his concerns after Miami's thrilling victory

28/08/2025 12:05:00 PlaymakerHub

Returning from injury with caution, Lionel Messi still played the full 90 minutes and shone brightly with a brace that helped Inter Miami defeat Orlando City 3-1, securing a spot in the Leagues Cup final.

After missing two consecutive matches and only playing 45 minutes in his last five appearances, Lionel Messi finally returned to Inter Miami’s starting lineup for the Leagues Cup semifinal against Orlando City. Although not fully fit and with limited training time, the Argentine superstar completed the entire match and delivered a top-level performance, playing a crucial role in his team's 3-1 victory.

After the game, Messi spoke to Apple TV about his feelings upon returning to the field after injury for the first time: “I wanted to be here. Facing LA Galaxy, I felt uncomfortable, but I knew how important this opponent was. I prepared myself for it. During the first half, I was scared, but gradually I became more at ease.” It was his caution and determination that made his comeback so emotional.

Messi admitted he was worried about his injury

With head coach Javier Mascherano suspended, assistant Javier Morales took charge of the match. Morales expressed his admiration for Messi’s performance: “With Leo, words can’t describe it. He barely trained, then came on and played the full 90 minutes. For us, having him is an honor, and for the fans, seeing him score is a privilege.”

Not only was he decisive in the gameplay, but Messi was also a huge source of inspiration for the entire team. Morales added: “He is a leader both on and off the pitch. Learning from him goes beyond football; it’s about how he leads.”

Inter Miami advances to the Leagues Cup final thanks to La Pulga’s brilliant display

The win over Orlando also extends Messi and Inter Miami’s strong record against this opponent in the Leagues Cup. Previously, they eliminated the same team in the round of 32 in 2023, and now for the second time, Orlando has been knocked out in the knockout stage.

The recent brace raised Messi’s career goal tally to 877. He is now 23 goals shy of reaching 900, 11 assists away from 400, and needs 34 more goal involvements to become the first player in history to directly contribute to 1,300 goals. This weekend, Messi will have the chance to win the 47th title of his career as Inter Miami faces either Seattle Sounders or LA Galaxy in the Leagues Cup final.

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