Leagues Cup: Messi’s goals send Miami through; Sounders beat LA Galaxy

Returning from an injury, Messi brought Inter Miami backmost from the brink of decision to flooded Orlando City with a 3-1 score.

Lionel Messi’s 2 goals and an assistance wrong the last 15 minutes of the lucifer person taken Inter Miami to a 3-1 triumph implicit 10-man Orlando City and acceptable up an MLS Leagues Cup last against Seattle Sounders.

After missing 2 consecutive matches with a close thigh injury, Messi converted a punishment successful the 77th infinitesimal to propulsion Inter level astatine 1-1, past combined with Jordi Alba to enactment the hosts up successful the 88th successful the 2nd semifinal connected Wednesday.

Telasco Segovia added a 3rd successful wounded clip arsenic Miami returned to the last of the Leagues Cup, the cross-border contention featuring teams from Major League Soccer and Mexico’s Liga MX.

Inter won it successful 2023, Messi’s archetypal play successful MLS.

“We are astatine a nonaccomplishment for words erstwhile it comes to discussing Leo [Messi],” said Javier Morales, the Inter adjunct manager who was astatine the helm arsenic Javier Mascherano watched from the stands serving a reddish paper suspension.

“He trained lone 2 oregon 3 days, and past helium played 90 minutes, and the mode helium played created situations, scoring goals.”

Messi, who had played erstwhile since helium was injured connected August 2, admitted helium felt immoderate trepidation.

“I prepared to beryllium successful this lucifer due to the fact that I knew however important it was, against a precise pugnacious hostile who had beaten america successful some games we faced this year,” helium said. “The information is, successful the archetypal fractional I felt a small scared, but successful the 2nd I loosened up a spot more.”

Miami volition question to Seattle for Sunday’s last aft the Sounders bushed reigning MLS Cup champions Los Angeles Galaxy 2-0 successful California.

Goals from Pedro de la Vega successful the seventh infinitesimal and Osaze Rosario successful the 57th lifted the Sounders, who held connected with 10 men aft Nouhou Tolo was sent disconnected successful the 83rd infinitesimal for a sliding tackle connected Gabriel Pec.

The finalists are some assured of berths successful the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup, with the victor of the third-place playoff betwixt Orlando and Los Angeles besides punching their summons to the determination tournament.

🏆🏆🏆@SoundersFC volition big @InterMiamiCF successful the @LeaguesCup final. pic.twitter.com/E5gc0c0qVh

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 28, 2025