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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Lionel Messi will be playing for another trophy. Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets are clearly not ready to start their retirements, either.
Tadeo Allande scored three goals – Alba and Bisquets, a pair of longtime Messi teammates who will retire when this season ends, assisted on his first two – and Inter Miami beat New York City FC 5-1 on Saturday night for the Eastern Conference title and a berth in the MLS Cup final.
Matteo Silvetti scored for Inter Miami in the 67th minute, with Messi setting up the goal – the 405th assist of his career for club and country, which is generally believed to be the most in soccer history. Telasco Segovia scored in the 83rd minute off a heel pass from Alba and converted it into a run-over and Alandi completed his hat-trick in the 89th minute.
Inter Miami — the No. 3 seed in the East — will play host to either San Diego or Vancouver for the league title on Dec. 6 at 2:30 p.m. Eastern. San Diego and Vancouver play for the Western Conference title later Saturday night.
It would be the first MLS finals appearance for Inter Miami, which had never advanced past the inaugural postseason round in its first five seasons. Messi’s club went 0-2 against Vancouver this season, losing both legs of the semifinals in the CONCACAF Champions Cup 5-1 on aggregate.
Justin Haque scored in the 37th minute for NYCFC, who went 0-2-1 against Inter Miami this season.
The victory moves Inter Miami one step closer to another trophy, after winning the League Cup in 2023 and the Supporters’ Shield as MLS’ top regular-season team last year. Messi, a World Cup champion for Argentina and now an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, joined the team midway through the 2023 season when it was at the bottom of the MLS standings and on an 11-match unbeaten streak.
now? The club’s brand is global, Messi’s number 10 jersey in the club’s pink kit is sold worldwide, a new stadium near Miami International Airport is ready for next season, Messi is under contract until 2028, he looks like a lock to win his second consecutive MLS MVP award and the team is on course to win the MLS title.
Stars come to watch this team because of Messi. Tennis great Carlos Alvarez was there Saturday night, as were some members of the U.S. women’s national team.
“Everybody in the world knows who Lionel Messi is. … I think everybody thought he would come here and do what he’s done,” said U.S. women’s forward Lindsey Horan, whose Messi fandom goes back several years.
Messi was hit on the left side of his head in the ninth minute and was briefly knocked up, staying near the center circle for a few seconds before finally getting to his feet. He jumped into the attack with Inter Miami about two minutes later, then took a direct kick from about 30 yards out – playing it into the box, but Silvetti’s header was easily caught by NYCFC goalie Matt Freiss.
Inter Miami’s next chance came a minute later. It cashed in – a long pass from Biskets was controlled by Aland, who easily slotted home to Fresi from 12 yards for a 1-0 lead.
Aland struck again in the 23rd minute on a header from a long pass from Alba, making it 2-0. And after Messi set up Silvetti for a 3-1 lead, the countdown to the celebrations was essentially 25 minutes or so later.
