Lionel Messi returned from injury to score in the 84th minute, leading Inter Miami to a 3-1 victory over defending MLS champions LA Galaxy. Jordi Alba opened the scoring for Miami, Joseph Paintsil equalized for Galaxy, and Luis Suarez added a late goal assisted by Messi. The 38-year-old Argentine, sidelined with a minor muscle injury, now has 19 goals and 10 assists in 19 MLS appearances this season. Meanwhile, Son Heung-min recorded his first MLS win in his first start for LAFC, helping the team beat New England 2-0. Son assisted the stoppage-time goal by Mathieu Choiniere, with Marco Delgado scoring earlier. Inter Miami sits fourth in the Eastern Conference, while LAFC is fifth in the Western Conference. With Messi back in action and Son making an instant impact, the MLS season promises exciting moments for fans.
Messi Returns from Injury to Lead Inter Miami Past LA Galaxy, Son Secures First MLS Win with LAFC
Lionel Messi made a triumphant return from injury as a second-half substitute, scoring in the 84th minute to help Inter Miami defeat defending MLS champions Los Angeles Galaxy 3-1 on Saturday. The 38-year-old Argentine striker had been sidelined with what Inter coach Javier Mascherano described as a "minor muscle injury," following Miami’s August 2 Leagues Cup victory over Mexican side Necaxa.
Messi, who missed Miami's Leagues Cup win over Pumas UNAM and the MLS loss to Orlando City, was carefully managed on the bench before replacing Telasco Segovia in the second half. “The plan was to give Leo 45 minutes to regain match fitness,” Mascherano said. “He wasn’t 100 percent comfortable at first, but he loosened up as the minutes went by. Tomorrow we’ll see how he feels.”
Miami took the lead in the 43rd minute through Jordi Alba, but Joseph Paintsil equalized for the Galaxy in the 59th. Messi’s 84th-minute strike put Miami ahead, and Luis Suarez added a late goal in the 89th, assisted by Messi, sealing the victory. The reigning MLS Most Valuable Player now has 19 goals and 10 assists in 19 league appearances this season, and Miami remains a strong contender in the Leagues Cup, set to face Tigres in the quarter-finals on Wednesday. Inter Miami currently sits fourth in the MLS Eastern Conference, six points behind leaders Philadelphia, with three matches in hand.
Meanwhile, South Korean star Son Heung-min celebrated his first MLS victory in his first start for LAFC, helping the club secure a 2-0 win over New England. Son assisted Mathieu Choiniere’s stoppage-time goal, while Marco Delgado opened the scoring in the 51st minute. LAFC now ranks fifth in the Western Conference, nine points behind leaders San Diego, but with two matches in hand.
With Messi back in form and Son making an immediate impact, the MLS season is shaping up to be increasingly thrilling for fans worldwide.
