Twitter reacts to Lionel Messi's latest Inter Miami masterclass vs Orlando City
- Messi scored twice in 3-1 Leagues Cup victory over Orlando City
- Opposition manager wanted World Cup winner sent off for second yellow
- Miami into last 16 of Leagues Cup
Lionel Messi's arrival at Inter Miami has been one of the stories of the summer and his move to the United States has attracted some of the biggest stars in North America.
The likes of LeBron James, Serena Williams, DJ and Sunday brunch enthusiast DJ Khaled and Kim Kardashian have all attended Heron games since the World Cup winner's arrival. Baseball icon Derek Jeter added his name to that list for the Leagues Cup clash with Orlando City and was treated to another masterclass from the Barcelona legend.
Messi had scored three times in his first two games for David Beckham's club and added another brace on Thursday as Miami sealed their progression to the last 16 of the cup competition.
Josef Martinez netted a penalty and Cesar Araujo brought Orlando back into the game with an equaliser, and while tempers flared with the Argentine even picking up a yellow card early on, it was the Messi show once again at DRV PNK Stadium.
Another Messi brace leads #InterMiamiCF into the Round of 16.
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 3, 2023
Rewind all of Messi's moments from @InterMiamiCF's 3-1 win over Orlando in @LeaguesCup action. pic.twitter.com/IGCKulJ9hg
Messi has been chirping at Orlando all night 😭😭😭
— Alex Windley (@aaw_1998) August 3, 2023
He was definitely up for the derby tonight.#InterMiamiCF
It's getting chippy in this game... #InterMiamiCF #OrlandoCity pic.twitter.com/J0rIpJp4ai
— Safid Deen 💯💯💯💯 (@Safid_Deen) August 3, 2023
Messi's peak years are way behind him but the forward has been spritely enough to form a devastating partnership with fellow attackers Robert Taylor and Josef Martinez.
Is it 'MSN' level? No, most certainly not. But their chemistry has led Inter to three wins on the trot in the Leagues Cup, their best run of form all season.
And of course, there's the running 'GOAT' discourse, which you would have thought Messi had ended with his 2022 World Cup triumph. It certainly won't be decided by Messi's time at Inter or Cristiano Ronaldo's efforts at Al Nassr, but that doesn't mean there isn't clout to earn on social media with the aid of pictures of gigantic wrestler turned actor John Cena.
Josef Martinez, Robert Taylor and Leo Messi pic.twitter.com/czrset1H9Z
— MC (@CrewsMat10) August 3, 2023
Messi has more knockout goals for Inter Miami than Ronaldo for Al Nassr pic.twitter.com/7oGk0MGREH
— ِ (@JobIesss) August 3, 2023
5 goals
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 3, 2023
3 games https://t.co/NTYKAt16ak pic.twitter.com/a0sgOA2UH9
Messi is no stranger to a feisty derby, having participated in 45 versions of El Clasico while at Barca. The rivalry between Miami and Orlando isn't quite as established as the historic battle between Spanish giants, but that didn't stop Messi getting riled up and aggravated for his new American side.
The 36-year-old was spotted getting heated with Orlando players. Visiting manager Oscar Pareja was angry with the officiating, claiming Inter shouldn't have been awarded a penalty and that Messi should have been dismissed.
He quipped: "Tonight was a circus. There was a second yellow on Messi. I don't care if he's Messi."
That second yellow never came and Orlando fans were upset.
The referee just forgive the second yellow card to #Messi and the next play he asked the referee for a yellow card on Araujo, and the referee gave it to him.
— Alonso Contreras (@alonso_purple) August 3, 2023
🤯#OrlandoCity
Having Messi play for your team is truly a blessing, you don’t only get the best player of this century but you also get the refs to automatically help you.
— Tactical Manager (@ManagerTactical) August 3, 2023
#OrlandoCity coach Oscar Pareja following tonight's 3-1 loss to Inter Miami:
— Mike Gramajo (@byMikeGramajo) August 3, 2023
"We have to be clear. The game was disputed by two teams... the reality on the call of the PK. It became a circus. Today was a circus."
I didn’t think #Messi could endear himself to #LaFamiliaIMCF anymore than he already had, but beefing with #OrlandoCity during the derby is going to take the love to an entirely new level #FuckOrlando 🤷♂️ #InterMiamiCF
— Battered Herons an Inter Miami Podcast (@BatteredHerons) August 3, 2023
You don't have to look that far online to find accusations of officiating being rigged in favour of Inter Miami since Messi arrived. It could be that which is behind Inter's recent turnaround, but it's more likely the quality of the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner is just proving too much for defences like Orlando, Atlanta United and Cruz Azul.
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