Lionel Messi was inevitably the star of the show once again on Friday night at DRV PNK Stadium, as Inter Miami comfortably saw off Charlotte FC to secure a spot in the Leagues Cup final four.
Although the Argentine maestro took up more of a midfield creator role tonight, he was still able to find the back of the net for a fifth game in a row. He had opened his account with a last-minute free-kick winner on his debut against Cruz Azul, before scoring a double in all three games afterwards.
With the result already wrapped up, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner scored his team’s fourth and final goal five minutes from time. The Argentine was found in the box by Leonardo Campana - who had been substituted in on the hour mark - for an open-goal opportunity, which the former Barcelona man finished emphatically.
Messi is now clear at the top of the Leagues Cup 2023 scoring charts with 8 strikes so far. He moves ahead of Minnesota United FC’s South African striker Bongokuhle Hlongwane, who was unable to cut the deficit in his team’s heavy 5-0 loss to Nashville SC in their quarter-final clash on Friday.
The Argentine’s barnstorming start to life in North American Soccer continues this week with a semi-final clash against the Philadelphia Union. A win would guarantee the Florida outfit a spot in next season’s CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Just under a month on from his debut with Inter Miami CF, Messi is now on the verge of leading his new team to their first piece of silverware - and picking up the golden boot award along the way.
