Lionel Messi set up both goals as David Beckham’s Inter Miami defeated Real Salt Lake 2-0 in Major League Soccer’s (MLS) season opening on Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Miami’s Robert Taylor scored in the first half, followed by Diego Gomez in the second, according to ESPN.
Midway through the first half, Messi nearly gave the sold-out crowd what they came for, scoring from a free kick and again from a corner.
“I think the eyes of the world are on Inter Miami, and I’m hoping they’re able to deliver on that and whatever expectations people have,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber, who attended Wednesday’s game.
He went on to say, “Mostly, I just want his experience to be positive, the team’s experience to be successful, and how they’re positioned both in the league and around the world.” That is the story that I believe is most essential to us.
Last season, Messi scored 11 goals in 14 games for Inter Miami, guiding the team to its first League Cup championship.
He signed a two-and-a-half-year contract worth approximately $150 million and played in six MLS games in 2023, scoring once.
Injuries slowed him late in the season, and Miami did not make the MLS playoffs.
Messi assisted on the first goal and set up Luis Suarez, who set up Gómez.
