at all times draw a crowd — and he brings in a crowd, too.
He additionally helped lead his new interim head coach, Guillermo Hoyos, to his first win with on Saturday.
In entrance of a crowd of 75,824 in Commerce, Colo., Messi scored two targets, together with a shocking 79th-minute winner, to propel Inter Miami to a 3-2 victory over the at Empower Area at Mile Excessive. striker Germán Berteram additionally scored for Inter Miami.
Lionel Messi (left) celebrates with after scoring the game-winning purpose within the second half of Inter Miami’s 3-2 win over the Rapids on April 18, 2026 in Commerce, Colo. Ron Chenoy-Imagn Pictures
The group was the second-highest attendance in MLS historical past.
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It was Miami’s first sport since stepped down as coach Tuesday, simply 4 months after guiding the membership to its first MLS Cup title.
It possible was an extra-special sport for Messi who has a protracted historical past together with his new interim coach. Hoyos, who labored at ’s famend La Masia academy for greater than 20 years, beforehand was Inter Miami’s sporting director earlier than he was given the interim head-coaching job.
“It has been a fantastic expertise as a result of there are gamers of immense high quality right here together with the best participant in historical past,” Hoyos mentioned in a information convention after the victory.
“I used to be excited on many events, as a result of soccer really is all about that emotion and keenness.”
Lionel Messi scores the primary of his two targets on a penalty kick throughout Inter Miami’s 3-2 win over the Rapids on April 18, 2026 in Commerce, Colo. MLS by way of Getty Pictures
Messi opened the scoring when he transformed a penalty kick within the thirteenth minute, earlier than his late go-ahead purpose, which was a factor of beaty.
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After a Colorado turnover close to midfield, Messi reduce close to the best nook of the penalty field and struck a rising shot that break up a pair of defenders and slipped contained in the again put up.
Messi has seven targets this season, tied with and for many in MLS.
Miami (4-1-3) hasn’t misplaced since a season-opening 3-0 defeat to . The (4-4-0) had received back-to-back video games and three of their final 4.
— with AP