Lionel Messi (l.) was once again the man to be celebrated. © APA / MEGAN BRIGGS

Messi leads Miami to the Leagues Cup final

Superstar Lionel Messi led Inter Miami to the final of the North American League Cup. The Argentinean football world champion turned the game around against Orlando City with two goals in the closing stages, and Miami won 3-1.

August 28, 2025

From: dpa/sn

After Orlando took the lead through Marco Pašalić (45th+1) shortly before halftime, Messi equalized with a penalty (77th), before the eight-time World Player of the Year gave Miami the lead eleven minutes later (88th). Telasco Segovia (90th+1) then sealed the final score. Orlando were down to ten men from the 75th minute onward following a red card for David Brekalo.

In Sunday's final, Messi and his team will face the Seattle Sounders, who defeated MLS Cup winners Los Angeles Galaxy, featuring German star Marco Reus, 2-0 (1-0) in the second semifinal. Messi had already won the Leagues Cup in 2023 in his first season with Miami. The 38-year-old recently missed two games due to a thigh muscle injury.

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"The truth is, I was still a little scared in the first half, but I was a bit more relaxed in the second half," Messi said after the match. "But I wanted to be there. I prepared for this game because I knew how important it was. The opponent was very strong; they've beaten us in both of our matches this year."