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It’s just so automatic for him wtf

I know I should be used to it by now, but the it still baffles me how you give him even just an inch of space and he fires one off instantly

Defending him is like parenting a hyperactive escape artist 3 year old. If you let him out of your sight and out of your reach for one second, he wreaks havoc. Then he smiles and looks proud of himself while you're tearing your hair out with frustration.

Muscle memory at this point. There are very few teams that can't recall conceding a goal from him from around that area.

My Sunday league team can’t recall it. Messi too much of a coward to do it on a humid foggy morning in Virginia Beach.

They're too good for that fraud.

Four to be precise. Messi has only failed to score or assist against four teams that he has played throughout his career.

That's a ridiculous stat honestly i didn't know it. What are those four teams?

He's faced 119 different sides. The lucky four are Bordeaux, UDA Gramenet, Udinese, and Rubin Kazan.

>and Rubin Kazan Berdyev masterclass, probably had less than 10% possession

Has he actually scored against every MLS team he faced so far? Insane stat.

Yeah, he has 10 goals in 7 matches or sth like that

He looks sooo relaxed

Surely just the nicest way to end your career. He was head and shoulders above already, but here he’s just playing Sunday league (not diminishing MLS, but he’s the best player ever and this is so easy for him) he must feel young again in a way. It’s like a return to the peak of his powers.

Reminds me of that one story about professional tennis player James Blake. He was playing a tennis tournament in high school, and he was letting the other guy win some points cause he felt bad or something. But he forgot that he had to pick up his prom tuxedo that day and the store was gonna close in like an hour or two. So he was just like, yo man I’m gonna have to beat you really fast. So he ends up winning like 6-0 6-0 or something and ends up driving to the store and picking up his tuxedo on time. I’d imagine that’s Leo today.

Back in the day I played a junior tennis tournament against Andre Agassi (I’m old). He beat me in around 30 minutes. I got a couple points off him because he was fucking around and made some errors.

He'll also enjoy that he'll be responsible for improving the overall appeal of the league and (as a result) it's quality.

Getting this guy to play in your MLS team is like getting the cheat code to the league.

It's like getting your older brother to join your knockabout team when you're 12

Vintage Messi goal

Knew it was going in when started moving like that; seen it waaaay too many times now 😮‍💨

Once he had like half a meter of space I was just like yep that’s going in

Nashvilles doing a pretty good job holding this Miami team but give him a little bit of space and the ball, you’re done for

That exact spot in the pitch is his sweet spot. The minute he starts going inside into that area you're fucked. You can't foul him because he'll just score a free kick, you just have to hope that you can block it.

I love how normalised it is now that he'll score a FK just outside the box

Off a loose ball so not even defense fault.

US announcer just said “uh oh” as soon as the ball got to his feet

You cannot blame the MLS quality on this... He's done this to every single team in the world... Ridiculous.

Yeah that was well defended. They gave him a window the size of the ball and he nailed it.

Only choice is foul him but then he just scores on the free kick lmfao

It's funny cause a lot of times you heard "they should have fouled him", but I think in these situations you don't even have time to think about it. You have in front, and then the ball is in the goal in just a short moment. It looks way easier to "just foul him" than it is.

Messi knows what you're gonna do before you know it so it doesn't matter

They should ask Ramos. Man tried to end Messi’s career plenty of times and that didn't stop him from scoring anyway.

He couldn't even touch him during that solo run in the CL finals

Zimmerman couldn’t have done anything more to defend the deflection. Just so happens it’s Messi on the other end of it and that’s all that matters

Started laughing when Twellman just said "uh oh" when he saw the deflection was heading right to Messi in that position.

Zimmerman actually gets a foot on the ball and Messi still controlled it after.... https://twitter.com/mattdoyle76/status/1693083235264155882?s=12&t=dm7Vr2lY0D6pKpVFzVU4Wg

Last World Cup if memory serves, Messi absolutely toyed with this Croatian defender in Joško Gvardiol leading upto Argentina’s goal. It seemed as if Messi was up against me on the field, but in reality, Gvardiol was rated as the best defender in the World Cup until they goal. Dude truly is unreal.

Also keep in mind that it is not prime Messi. Dude really has been amazing.

Every Messi is prime Messi until he gets tired of playing fulbo

Reminds me of *that* goal he scored against Bayern in 2015 where he first banished Boateng to the shadow realm before lobbing Neuer. If you had shown this scene to someone who doesn't know football, he'd have thought Neuer and Boateng were some sunday league scrubs.

Fucker even styled on my U9 youth team

He is not of this earth

Mexican commentators busted out this phrase right after he scored lmao

Ray Hudson to Telemundo

We need him back as the full time Miami commentator like the last few years. Can't believe we lost him right before Messi came here.

Seen this a 1000 times

And here he is again

And here he is again

That's astonishing

#IT’S ABSOLUTELY WORLD CLASS

Weave through the entire defense and launch an unstoppable missile like it’s nothing

How’s he somehow showing even more class since moving to MLS? I am sure plenty of La Liga defenders are watching this with a smile as it shows that they really tried in the past.

2011

First time he got on the ball in an attacking area Inevitable

Nashville had been doing the best job of keeping him in check until that

4 defenders around him. Skips past one, takes an inch of space and puts it in the top corner. What the fuck

"Que miras bobo?" "Que miras bobo?" "Que miras bobo?" "Que miras bobo?"

Messi and the art of spamming on twitch chat.

Yeah this is the first time I’ve been impressed by MLS defense, can’t really do much about that

Nashville’s defense has been impressive all tournament, they locked down Monterrey so effortlessly

Philly has a good defense too, but for some reason they changed their formation and tactics for that game. That backfired. Nashville are staying true to their usual tactics, and it was working... but there's nothing you can do about Messi.

Great defensive setup. High press, then midblock They forced Busquets super deep to get on the ball and blocked all the passing lanes centrally. But 1 moment of magic and it's undone

I noticed and TT mentioned that Busquets event had to shift to playing as a right sided CB in back 3 when building out to find lanes since he noticed his Nashville was coming out to defend.

Nothing you can even do about that he is greatness

Inevitable is the word for Messi in MLS. Nashville is doing everything but there’s no stopping perfection.

Inevitable is the word for Messi anywhere on earth lol

Lol fuck off

Literally screamed “Are you fucking kidding me” as soon as the ball hit the back of the net. Unreal

Ray Hudson is that you?

Him

Messi should let the kids play and stop being a bully. Like grow up

This man had touched the ball all of like 4 times and then does this 😭😭

When he wound up, I thought no chance he scores. Damn he’s kinda good

Yeah, kinda lol

Got some potential

Golazo

What an unbelievable strike Didn’t even look like it went in at first

Just holy fuck.

MLS goalies must be so fucking pissed having to deal with this quality now

Bruh he has been doing this in Europe for like 15years lol. Don’t matter

Yea but would an MLS keeper ever expect in their lifetime to deal with a player like this?

He makes these type of goals look so easy, he’s unbelievable

Hes the best of all time no fucking doubt.

Absolutely no doubt anymore. Winning the World Cup removed any possible argument against him.

Also Leagues Cup

*Especially* Leagues Cup.

True. After tonight, we can finally say that Messi has won it all. The biggest one eluded him for years, but at last, the Leagues Cup is his to hold and cherish.

Hasn’t won the MLS All-Stars Skills Challenge yet

Unironically yes. Miami had 22 goals all season. They have 22 in 7 leagues Cup games. He's turned the worst team in the league into the best. Doing this at 35 is another great argument for him being the GOAT

I mean I agree with you but lets not act like bringing Alba and Busquets with him isn't a major part of what turned the team around so much

36*

How many leagues cups does pele have?

According to Pele, probably 12

Yea the wc, the 7 bdors and 6 golden boots didnt c9nvince this trophy however does

Tbf, the MLS-LigaMx Leagues Cup is the most prestigious tournament that Messi has ever played in

8 soon

Lmao like this goal somehow cemented his legacy. "I was on the fence but this goal was the deciding factor"

What the FUCK

Fck me. What a goal. Why did u leave Europe ??

He wanted to try Cuban sandwiches

I don't blame anyone who makes their life decisions around a Cuban Sandwich from Miami.

Absolutely fuckin fair!

Messi saw scarface and decided to RP irl

Look how happy he his with this new project. I’m a Barca fan but man is it good to see him genuinely happy

He’s genuinely just loving life right now. It’s good to see.

He is like kid playing in the park. Full of joy.

Imagine traveling the entirely of the US and being absolutely loved wherever you go. Even opposing fans love Messi.

Exactly. I think coming to the US was the best thing for him you can tell him and his family are truly happy and feel welcomed something they didn’t have in Paris

and MLS fans, broadly speaking, are loving it across the board. Not gonna moan over unfairness when I’m going to be able to watch Messi in the flesh

Still so unreal to me that he's actually playing in the MLS

He is in Nashville, Tennessee at the moment

The anthem was performed by a country singer. Messi ate fried chicken and bbq before the game. He’s currently concealed carrying a .45 in the glovebox of his corvette

> He’s currently concealed carrying a .45 in the glovebox of his ~~corvette~~ Ford F150

Yeah F150 for sure. After the game he’s going to roll coal on Hany Mukhtar

Messi now requests ice water when he dines and tips for friendly service.

Nah he doesn't have to request it, the ice water comes standard

Wtf

That’s where the final is He probably drove past the Johnny cash museum

I know, but it's still wild to think about

I blame the PSG ultras.

That was definitely the final straw, even for neymar

To have some peace and fun after a long stressful career.

cause we're broke

Not even broke only, I blame Tevas for this. How could you let the biggest attraction of your league to leave like this.

It was us or no one else.

He looks so happy now

This is another Eurozone crisis

Let's call it Messi League Soccer

Fucking unfair, imagine playing football with your friends but they have Goku on their team

6 Stars quality player never fades. Too easy for Messi.

Incredible rocket goal. All it takes is one touch in a dangerous area and it's in from Messi

Staying up till 4:38 am for this. He is inevitable, no time is wasted watching him play.

Are you fucking kidding me

Messi is speedrunning football at this point

Class is permanent

This man is in his prime. He belongs in a Champions League final.

He is in the leagues cup final upper tier……. Ha

He deserves to be in the Stanley Cup

Imagine 10 years ago saying that Messi would be scoring in an inter season MLS league final in front of a sold out crowd in Nashville.

inter Miami did not even exist 10 years ago

Neither did Nashville. Neither did the mid season tournament. That’s their point!

Dude how does he do this????? He had such a quiet game so far too wtf

41 finals, 15+ years. Heaven or earth, he alone is the honored one.

The Chosen One. And he shops at Publix.

LMAO not even Courtois saves that

INEVITABLE

No fucking way lmao

It’s funny when the other team doesn’t do anything wrong defensively and it stills goes into the top corner

Brother of fucking christ, what a shot

Jesus. What a strike.

bro just does what he wants

It’s just unfair

Mfs talked about haaland being a robot

HAHAHAHA THE GOAT

United fan calling Messi the goat? Games gone /s

Hhahahah amazing

Great strike merchant

Poor Nashville. They've looked okay and then the GOAT of GOATs gets the ball

You knew it as soon as he had it at the top of the box

What can you even say. Messi with a fabulous hit.

Bangers only, this man is unreal

Sorry I ever debated on the cristiano vs messi being the goat. Messi is the clear winner. My Real Madrid bias got to me I apologize 🙏🏼

He is unstoppable and inevitable

Never in a million years i would ever thought to watch an mls league on a saturday night, but here we are thx to messi

The GOAT.

How is he making it look so easy 😭😭😭

This fucking guy

fucking freakizoid

That’s ridiculous

It’s just unfair lol

I literally woke up 2 mins ago and started watching 30 seconds ago and the first thing i see is this. Am i dreaming😏

Still the best player in the world

bro is smurfing

This guy is scoring shots that cannot be saved by anyone for an MLS team. Ridiculous.

Neither prime De Gea, Buffon, Navas nor Courtouis was saving that.

Football wise has been such a horrible week for me as a United fan but seeing this man play automatically puts a smile on my face. The 🐐

This is simply better than playing in Saudi. Has to be.

I really shouldn’t be surprised anymore but wtf

What the actual fuck

fuk im crying watching MLS what world is this!!!

I need to see his goals vs xG stats for his Inter Miami games. He can't seem to miss.

so casual

The absolute goat.

WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT

dudes a fucking menace. the GOAT.

My brother in christ. The little magician keeps pulling hankies out of his pocket. This is stupid ridiculous

Don’t think Nashville really did anything glaringly wrong either. Messi is just THAT good.

I want my apple TV money back. I had to wait till the 25th minute to see a Messi goal this time

Insane touch from Taylor on the attack as well https://x.com/mls/status/1693075081788871090?s=46&t=OAB5gC_vnQ7kvwreAoqTfw

Too EZ

Messi views the pitch in third person confirm.

just unbelievable what the fuck man hahahahah

Lol.

Disgusting, incredible

HOW DOES HE PERFECTLY PLACE IT EVERY TIME

I think this guy might be the real deal. Thought he’s only a 6 match wonder. Turns out he can do it on his 7th match too