While Lionel Messi was coming on the back of back-to-back hat-tricks, one for the country, the other for his club, it seemed like the stage was set for him to be the lead act as Inter Miami took on Atlanta United at the Chase Stadium in Florida. However, it was not him that found the back of his net but his ex-FC Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez who scored the goal as Inter Miami won the match 2-1.
Messi did have a significant role to play in the match, setting up a goal for Jordi Alba in the 60th minute after Saba Lobzhanidze's 39th minute strike helped Atalanta United cancel out out Suarez's 2nd minute goal. The result means an emphatic 2-1 win for Inter Miami in Game One of the Major League Soccer (MLS) Playoffs.
Messi and Surarez yet again proved that despite being 37 they have still got what it takes to be at the professional level. While Messi has scored 20 goals, 16 assists in 19 matches, Suarez also has 20 goals and nine assists in 27 matches, with both of them tied for second in the Golden Boot race. It is pertinent to note that Messi had to miss matches in between but such has been his goal-scoring form that he has more than made up for it.
While the legendary Argentinde might not have added to his goal tally but he did add to his assist on Friday when he set up the goal for Alba. Messi passed the ball to Alba who needed no second invitation to use his left foot and slot the ball into the bottom right corner in what turned out to be the decisive goal.