Lionel Messi continued to defy expectations on Wednesday night, leading Inter Miami to a stunning 3-1 Leagues Cup victory over Orlando City. With two spectacular goals, the Argentine star exhibited his world-class abilities, proving that he was far from on vacation following his relocation to the United States from Paris Saint-Germain.

A Rivalry Heats Up, Messi Shines

It’s fair to say that the Miami-Orlando rivalry lacks the ferocity of FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid, a matchup with which Messi is all too aware. Nonetheless, the Argentine brought his A-game to the DRV PNK Stadium. He opened the scoring with a chest-trap and volley off a brilliant chip from Robert Taylor in the 7th minute, and later secured the victory with another volley, this time off a short chip from Josef Martinez, who had himself scored off a penalty kick.

The game wasn’t without its share of drama. Messi picked up a yellow card, clashed with Cesar Araujo, and was accused of deserving a second booking by Orlando’s coach, Oscar Pareja, who was visibly upset by the penalty call and the superstar’s overall influence on the match.

Messi’s Impact on Inter Miami: More Than Just Goals

Since Messi’s arrival in South Florida less than a month ago, his influence has been clearly felt both on and off the pitch. His presence in the squad not only boosted the team’s attack but also lifted the morale and confidence of his teammates. Teammate DeAndre Yedlin credited Messi with instilling “a bit of fear in the eyes” of their opponents, giving Miami more room to play.

Messi’s addition to the team is something the team’s coach, Tata Martino, feels is invaluable. Martino lauded Messi for making “difficult things look easy,” reaffirming that Messi is the best in the world and came to Miami to compete at the highest level.

The Inter Miami star has made a strong first impression, scoring five goals in three games, including goals against Cruz Azul and Atlanta United. This great start has piqued the interest of fans, many of whom arrived at the game wearing Messi’s No. 10 shirts, whether from his Argentina national team, Inter Miami, or even his previous Barcelona days.

Inter Miami will face FC Dallas in the League Cup round of 16 on Sunday, with fans hoping for more of Messi’s amazing brilliance. After all, as Robert Taylor put it, playing with Messi gives “new energy to everyone on the team,” and everyone is excited to see what happens next.