Messi scores twice in Miami comeback at Orlando

Orlando, Fla. – Lionel Messi delivered a vintage performance on enemy soil, scoring twice and setting up another as Inter Miami overturned a two-goal deficit to defeat Orlando City 4-2 in the heated Florida derby.

The reigning champions arrived at Exploria Stadium still stinging from a season-opening loss to Los Angeles FC and found themselves in deeper trouble when Marco Pasalic and Martin Ojeda struck inside the opening 25 minutes to give Orlando a commanding 2-0 lead.

Hope arrived seven minutes after the restart through midfielder Mateo Silvetti, whose thunderous 25-yard drive halved the deficit and ignited the Miami bench.

With the match tilting, the 38-year-old Argentine seized control. In the 57th minute Messi collected possession on the edge of the area and arrowed a precise left-footed strike beyond Maxime Crepeau for his first goal of the campaign, restoring parity and silencing the home crowd.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner then turned provider, slipping a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Telasco Segovia, who finished calmly with five minutes remaining to give Miami its first lead of the night.

Messi capped the stunning turnaround in the 90th minute, curling a low free-kick that evaded the wall and crept inside the near post, prompting a signature celebration in which he cupped his hands in a signing gesture toward the touchline.

Inter Miami had never won in nine previous trips to Orlando; the victory snaps that skid and lifts early pressure on first-year head coach Javier Mascherano.

“He’s the best player to ever play this sport. He’s a leader, and as a leader, he inspires others, but he also often needs to be inspired himself,” Mascherano said of Messi. “He has the ability to create chances like no-one else, and that’s what allowed us to turn the game around.”

The brace lifts Messi’s career tally to 898 goals for club and country, including 79 in 90 appearances for Miami. Next up for the Herons is a road date at DC United on Saturday as they look to build momentum from their first win of the campaign.