Lionel Messi was responsible for opening the scoring for **Inter Miami CF** against **FC Dallas** in a match for a place in the **Leagues Cup 2023** quarterfinals. The goal was assisted by Jordi Alba in a way that repeats a lethal passing pattern the duo have done before, including for an iconic Messi goal.
In the sixth minute of the match, Alba sprinted down the left flank and made a cutback pass to Messi at the top of the box. On his first touch, Messi fired a shot past a helpless Maarten Paes for the first goal of the night to make it 1-0.
The goal was very similar to one scored by Messi against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu. During the 2017 Clásico, the match was tied 2-2 in the 92nd minute.
In that play, it was Alba running down the left flank and then hit Messi with a cutback pass at the top of the box. Messi scored on his single touch and helped Barcelona come away with three points. As part of his goal celebration, he took off his jersey and held it up toward the Real Madrid crowd, showing the name and number on the back of his jersey.
Watch both plays here:
In the 54th minute the duo almost repeated the same play, but the FC Dallas defense was ready for it and disrupted the play before Messi had a chance to shoot. Can this duo continue this connection throughout the rest of their Leagues Cup 2023 run?
