In just four appearances for his new club Inter Miami, World Cup winner and Argentine legend Lionel Messi has become the side's top scorer in the ongoing 2023 season.
Messi's double strike in his first away match for Inter Miami on Sunday took his tally to seven goals in four Leagues Cup matches for the Major League Soccer club that is owned by former England captain David Beckham.
He scored in his debut game off a free-kick to help Miami equalise against Cruz Azul and followed that up with a brace in each of his next two matches against Atlanta United and Orlando City.
On Sunday, Messi turned that into a hat-trick of double strikes by scoring twice against FC Dallas in the last-16 match. It included a brilliant 85th-minute equaliser off a trademark curling free-kick, after he had put his team ahead in the sixth minute with a side-foot finish.
Messi's equaliser to make it 4-4 took the game to shootout after Miami had trailed 4-2 with 10 minutes to go.
Miami then won on penalties to confirm their entry into the quarter-finals.
The Leagues Cup is a tournament involving clubs from Major League Soccer and Mexico's Liga MX. It does not have an extra-time rule for drawn games.
(With agency inputs)
