For the fourth game in a row at this summer’s Leagues Cup, it was Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi who was the star of the show. The Argentine scored twice as his team clinched a dramatic 4-4 draw in Texas against FC Dallas, before going on to win on penalties and claiming their spot in the competition’s quarter-finals.
As pointed out by Opta, last night was only the second time that the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner had taken part in a penalty shoot-out at club level.
He has never done so during his two decades with Barcelona, but was called up to the penalty spot in his first season with Paris Saint-Germain, when the Ligue 1 champions were facing Nice in the Coupe de France Round of 16. Although Messi himself converted his effort, his team would eventually lose to Les Aiglons in the spot-kick session.
This time, Messi’s successful opening penalty attempt did not go to waste, as his compatriot Benjamín Cremaschi eventually went on to score the winner with Inter Miami CF’s fifth of the shoot-out.
Last night’s win also provided penalty redemption for Lionel Messi in a different sense. His last shoot-out in the United States had come in the Copa América Centenario in 2016, in the final against Chile at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
After the game finished 0-0, Arturo Vidal saw his opening penalty for La Roja saved. Messi then had the chance to put the Albiceleste in front in the shoot-out - but blazed his effort over the bar. Argentina would eventually lose to their Chilean rivals, in what was a repeat of the previous year’s. Messi would have to wait until 2021 before lifting the continental title for the first time in his career.
On Sunday night, then, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner enjoyed a moment of atonement as he came out on top in a penalty shoot-out in the US. He’ll be hoping for more success from the spot as Leagues Cup 2023 goes on, as he looks to lead Inter Miami CF to a first title since his arrival earlier this summer - and what would be his first title in North America.
