Once again, Brad Guzan has been beaten by Lionel Messi, as **Inter Miami CF** swept aside **Atlanta United FC** by a comfortable margin of 4-0 this Tuesday evening at Leagues Cup 2023. The pair had already faced off seven years ago on North American soil, although on that occasion they were playing for their respective national teams. That night, Argentina saw off the United States 4-0 in Texas, in the semifinals of the Copa América Centenario 2016.
That duel was in front of 70,000 spectators at NRG Stadium in Houston, as the side captained by Lionel Messi sealed their spot in the final of that tournament. Although the clash was seven years ago, there are some similarities with tonight’s game.
As well as both Lionel Messi and The Five Stripes’ shot-stopper Brad Guzan being present, the two games also have another figure in common: Gerardo “Tata” Martino. Now with the Florida outfit, the Argentine manager was in charge of the team that convincingly beat the United States that night against the hosts.
In that game, just after the half hour mark, Messi would convert an incredible free-kick that left Brad Guzan helpless.
The World Cup winner’s magic strikes again in the United States: _On the first night of_ **_Leagues Cup 2023_**_,_ Messi scored the winner against Cruz Azul.
Argentina vs United States: How did the game go?
Just as he did in his Leagues Cup 2023 debut, Lionel Messi would score an exquisite free-kick. The fantastic strike would see him overtake Gabriel Batistuta as the national team’s all-time top scorer. Before that goal on 31 minutes, the number ten had assisted Ezequiel Lavezzi to go 1-0 up after just three minutes.
Gonzalo Higuaín, a former Inter Miami CF striker, would score at the start and at the end of the second half to secure Argentina’s spot in the Copa América Centenario 2016 final. They would lose in the final just days later, to Chile.
