Messi scores twice, assists in first Inter Miami start

 Lionel Messi scored twice and assisted once on his first start for Inter Miami in a 4-0 win over Atlanta United.

The Argentina star, 36, scored two inside the opening 22 minutes before setting up team-mate, Rob­ert Taylor, in the second half.

After netting his second, Messi celebrated by pointing at Inter Miami owner, David Beckham.

His performance follows a match-winning stoppage-time free-kick on his debut last week.

Messi, who is a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, only trained with his team-mates for the first time last week after moving to the Major League Soccer side following the end of his contract at Paris St-Germain.

Messi opened the scoring in the ninth minute, firing home a rebound from his own shot after controlling a ball over the top former Barcelona team-mate and fellow new arrival, Sergio Busquets.

He doubled the lead 13 min­utes later, combining with Finland midfielder, Taylor, to slot home a low cross from close-range.

Taylor added a third before half-time, before Messi put the 28-year-old through on the break in the second half to complete the scoring.

Messi was substituted in the 78th minute to a standing ovation, with a number of fans leaving the 20,000-seat DRV PNK Stadium shortly afterwards.

The win saw Inter Miami move into the knockout stages of the Leagues Cup. —BBC

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