Inter Miami’s highly anticipated August 20 game against Charlotte suddenly pushed back
- Messi has only featured in the Leagues Cup since joining Miami this summer
- Their progression in the competition means his MLS bow has been pushed back
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Lionel Messi’s long-awaited MLS debut on August 20 has been postponed due to Inter Miami’s progression in the Leagues Cup, the club has announced.
Messi has made a blistering start to his Miami career, scoring seven goals in his first four games, including a 94th-minute free-kick winner on his debut against Cruz Azul.
However, all four of those appearances have come in the Leagues Cup, where he has helped Tata Martino’s men reach this season’s quarter finals.
Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain has been made to wait for his MLS bow, and following Sunday’s penalty-shootout victory over FC Dallas in the Leagues Cup round of 16, he will now have to wait a little longer.
Messi was due to appear in the league for the first time against Charlotte FC at DRV PNK Stadium on Sunday August 20, yet that fixture has now been pushed back given the two sides are also set to meet in the Leagues Cup quarter finals this Friday.
That means either Miami or Charlotte will be in this season’s semi finals, and with both the final and the third-place playoff being held on Saturday August 19, one of them will be unable to fulfil their MLS fixture the following day.
Inter has announced that any tickets for the August 20 game will be honored for the new date when it is confirmed.
Messi will hope to continue his incredible form in the Leagues Cup against Charlotte on Friday after a series of influential performances in the group stage and round of 16.
After his breathtaking winner against Cruz Azul, the 36-year-old scored three consecutive doubles to fire Miami into the last eight, including a late equalizer in Sunday’s win over Dallas.
Once again Messi struck gold from a free kick, curling the ball into the top-right corner to make it 4-4 and send the game to extra-time.
He then successfully tucked away his penalty kick in the resulting shootout as Miami booked their place in the quarter-finals.
Just a month into his spell at the club, Messi already sits as the joint-fourth highest scorer in Miami’s history with seven goals.
His dramatic equalizer against Dallas on Sunday drew him level with current team mate Josef Martinez as well as former players Lewis Morgan and Rodolfo Pizarro.
The only players to have scored more than Messi are Gonzalo Higuain (29), and current Inter players Leo Campana (16) and Robert Taylor (8).
Messi has breathed new life into a franchise which had been struggling earlier in the season, and his country believe the United States now has an alien in its presence.
Amid his stunning start in Miami, the Argentina FA has released an emotional video paying tribute to their captain and joking that an ‘alien’ has been spotted Stateside.
‘They say that in the United States you can see aliens,’ the video, shared by president of the Argentine Football Association Claudio Tapia, begins. ‘Indeed, the first time they saw him turning around a free-kick in the 93rd minute.
‘And some saw him again a few hours ago, getting into the quarter-finals. With a shot from another galaxy, it’s a supernatural phenomenon.’
