FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Lionel Messi is healthy and fit, and ready to captain Argentina again this summer. More importantly, Inter Miami’s mission to deliver Messi to Argentina healthy for Copa América is complete.
Messi, Luis Suárez and Jordi Alba each scored game-tying goals to help Inter Miami survive a thrilling 3-3 draw against St. Louis City SC at Chase Stadium on Saturday night. Alba assisted Messi and Suárez in the first half, then delivered the equalizer in the 85th minute.
“He was practically responsible, along with Jordi, for our attacking plays,” Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said of Messi. “He finished well, and now he’ll do what he’s done all his life and be present with the Argentine national team.”
Now, Messi can shift his focus to rejoining Argentina and shining in Copa América, which begins later this month.
Messi, who turns 37 on June 24, is in the twilight of his storied career and will again captain Argentina – the reigning 2021 Copa América and 2022 World Cup champions.
Copa América, which begins June 20 with Argentina playing against Canada in Atlanta, could be Messi’s final major tournament for his home country.
Messi scored in the 25th minute Saturday, and repeatedly tried to force the issue offensively against St. Louis as Inter Miami found itself trailing 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2 in the match.
Chris Durkin unleashed a right strike to give St. Louis a 1-0 lead, 10 minutes before Messi scored. Indiana Vassilev scored in the 41st minute for the 2-1 lead. And Durkin struck again in the 68th minute to make it 3-2 and earn the brace.
Inter Miami was staring at the unique thought of two straight losses in which Messi scored a goal. Thankfully, Messi’s close friends from Barcelona helped their new club fend off defeat.
Suarez scored just before halftime, but missed a header before the final whistle. And Alba, who missed a shot on goal earlier in the match, scored his second goal of the season in the 85th minute, preventing the loss.
“I think we also had a chance to take the game, but well, as you say, in our field we try not to lose,” Alba said.
Messi and Suarez each have 12 goals this MLS season, trailing Real Salt Lake’s Cristian Arango (16 after a hat trick Saturday) and D.C. United’s Christian Benteke (idle at 13) for the league lead.
Inter Miami earns one point from the draw, and remains in first place in the MLS Eastern Conference with 35 points – two points ahead of second-place Cincinnati.
Jordi Alba missed his chance earlier in the match, but he didn’t miss this one.
Alba leaked behind the St. Louis defense, and scored in the 85th minute to tie the match at 3.
Alba’s score was approved after referees determined he was onside.
Messi fell to ground, upset his two shots toward the net were unable to connect.
Messi’s kick was deflected back to him, and his second kick just sailed over the net.
Messi took a swing with his right boot, but missed in the 74th minute, as Inter Miami continues to fight in this match after falling behind yet again.
Messi played the point and found Benjamin Cremaschi, who forced the issue with a shot toward the net that flew into the stands.
Chris Durkin has struck again, scoring his second goal of the match to give St. Louis a 3-2 lead in the 68th minute.
Durkin's brace follow a corner kick, and poor defense by Inter Miami during the sequence.
Messi headed upfield with a head of steam, but he might have held onto the ball longer than he should have. Messi had Suárez streaking down his right side, but he tired to dribble further before he was ultimately stopped.
We have a tied match again, and it's Inter Miami's star power coming through again.
Luis Suárez scored on a pass from Alba during first half extra time to tie this match at 2 just before halftime.
Inter Miami is down again in the first half, and it’s a former player finding the back of the net.
Indiana Vassilev, who played for Inter Miami in 2021-22, scored in the 41st minute to give St. Louis a 2-1 lead.
Messi nearly had a brace about 10 minutes after his first goal. He received another pass from Jordi Alba, and aimed for the lower corner of the net.
But the shot was saved by St. Louis goalie Roman Bürki in the 35th minute.
It didn’t take long for Messi to even the score. He did it 10 minutes after St. Louis took the lead.
Messi scores in the 25th minute, and this match is tied: He tried to veer toward his right, but made a U-turn. He found Jordi Alba on the outside, and his former Barcelona teammate found him after he made a cut towards the net.
What a strike. St. Louis standout Chris Durkin unleashed a right strike into the back of the net in the 15th minute to help his side take a 1-0 lead over Inter Miami.
Inter Miami has allowed its opposition to open the scoring 12 times in 18 games this season. So, this isn't new for Messi's side.
Jacksonville Jaguars star quarterback Trevor Lawrence is in attendance to watch Messi and Inter Miami tonight.
Messi, the best in the game with his handling of the ball, already has two instances where he nutmegged St. Louis defenders in the opening minutes.
The fancy dribbling did not lead to a scoring opportunity, but it still brought cheers from fans in attendance.
Messi has arrived to Chase Stadium for tonight's match with a smile and next to close friend Luis Suárez.
Messi is healthy and fit, and will play against St. Louis City. He's in the starting lineup, announced an hour before kickoff.
The Inter Miami match against St. Louis City is available via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
WATCH: Messi and Inter Miami host St. Louis City SC on Apple TV
TICKETS: Experience Messi and Inter Miami in person at home against St. Louis City SC
SHOP: Get the latest Messi and Inter Miami team gear from the MLS Store
Inter Miami is a -185 favorite at home, with +333 odds to tie, while St. Louis City is a +400 underdog. The over/under is set at 3.5 goals, according to BETMGM.
Messi has -160 odds as an anytime goal scorer, while Luis Suárez is at -105. Messi is +310 to score two or more goals, while Suárez is +525 to score twice or more.
Ensuring Messi is healthy for Copa América is paramount for Inter Miami, who sit in first place in the MLS Eastern Conference with 34 points. Another victory and three points vs. St. Louis will ease the blow Inter Miami will endure without Messi as the MLS season continues during summer's international window..
Messi, the 2021 Copa América and 2022 World Cup champion, scored a goal in Inter Miami’s 3-1 loss to Atlanta United last Wednesday. It was his first match in a 10-day stretch after being allowed to stay home and not travel to play May 25 at Vancouver.
Uniquely, it was also the first match where Messi scored a goal and lost the game since the 2-1 loss Argentina suffered to Saudi Arabia to begin the Qatar World Cup on Nov. 22, 2022.
Still, the goal was a positive sign for Messi, who was held scoreless and without an assist in matches against at Montreal on May 11, where he endured a blow to his legendary left leg, and home against D.C. United on May 18.
Messi won’t have to travel far to rejoin his Argentine teammates: They’re reportedly training at Inter Miami’s facilities for the Copa América, beginning next week.
Messi is expected to play in two friendlies which will serve as Argentina Copa América warmups: against Ecuador at Soldier Field in Chicago on June 9 at 5:30 p.m. ET; and vs. Guatemala near Washington D.C. at Commanders Field in Landover, Maryland on June 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Messi and Argentina will kickoff the Copa América in the tournament opener against Canada at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on June 20.
Argentina, in Group A, will also face Chile on June 25 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and Peru on June 29 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida during Copa América group play.
If Argentina advances out of the group stage, it will play a quarterfinal matchup on July 4 in Houston or July 5 in Arlington, Texas.
If Argentina advances to the Copa América semifinal, it would play at MetLife Stadium again on July 9.
The Copa América third-place game will be held at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on July 13, and the Copa América final will be held at Hard Rock Stadium on July 14.
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