Nhl Playoffs Today

Coming off arguably the biggest sports deal in American history, Lionel Messi's move to Major League Soccer was seismic for the sport's growth in the U.S. However, the Argentine superstar's challenge at Inter Miami CF will come with bigger expectations in a year where he will compete for trophies at club and even international level, with Argentina playing in the Copa America on American soil.

Messi's Miami era couldn't have started any better. In his first two months last season, he's already helped them win one title (the Leagues Cup tournament that featured all MLS and Liga MX teams) and helped his side make the final of the U.S. Open Cup, where they lost 2-1 to the Houston Dynamo.

As for the MLS Cup? Messi & Co. will look to achieve that now in his second season. The expectations are now bigger with him playing in his first full season but will be alongside some new names, which includes former Barcelona teammate and one of the best strikers of his generation, Luis Suárez.

Despite not winning a single game in the preseason, Messi will look to help his side win their maiden MLS Cup.

So far, Messi's tally is:

Check in here as ESPN tracks all of Messi's appearances for Inter Miami and provides instant analysis and reaction.

Messi and Inter Miami continued their imperious form in MLS, as the Argentine superstar scored twice in his team's 3-1 win over the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Saturday.

Messi netted coolly from close range in the 32nd and 67th minutes as Miami overcame conceding a first-minute goal to cruise to victory in front of a record home crowd for New England of 65,612.

Saturday marks the first time Messi has scored in six consecutive league games since a run of eight in January-February 2021 with Barcelona.

Messi continued his red-hot start to the season, scoring twice and laying on an assist for Sergio Busquets as Inter Miami came from behind to beat Nashville SC 3-1 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Saturday.

The Argentina icon lifted his tally to nine goals and eight assists in nine games in all competitions so far this season. He is also the first player since 2016 to record a goal contribution in each of his first six MLS games to start a season.

Messi's opening goal came in the 11th minute, when he finished off a goalmouth scramble after his initial effort had been saved by Nashville goalkeeper Elliot Panicco.

Messi then sealed back-to-back victories for Miami in the 81st minute. This time it came from the penalty spot, sending substitute goalkeeper Joe Willis the wrong way after Nashville defender Josh Bauer was penalized for a foul on substitute Leonardo Afonso.

The win moved Miami to 5-3-2 this season to stay top of the Eastern Conference.

A stunning long-range strike and an assist from Messi helped Inter Miami to a 3-2 win over Sporting Kansas City in front of a record crowd of 72,610 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on Saturday.

Making his first MLS start since March 2 after overcoming a hamstring injury, Messi let fly from 25 yards with his famed left foot to give Miami the lead six minutes into the second half.

The home team, cheered on by minority owner and three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes, played its part in an entertaining evening. Erik Thommy, who also gave his team the lead after six minutes, equalized seven minutes after Messi's strike.

But Miami avoided a sixth straight match without a win in all competitions courtesy of a close-range finish from Messi's ex-Barcelona teammate Luis Suárez following an SKC defensive mishap.

Despite Messi playing the full 90 minutes in a fiery quarterfinal second leg, Miami was eliminated from the Concacaf Champions Cup (losing 5-2 on aggregate). The home side were efficient in shutting down opportunities for the Argentine talisman -- who had missed the first leg -- and keeping him to just one chance in the first half. 

Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender gifted a goal to Brandon Vázquez in the 31st minute before Monterrey dominated for the majority of the match, scoring two more goals to put the game out of reach. Throughout the game, the hostility between the home team and Miami was high, with fans booing Messi, who in turn began sliding into tackles and playing more physically, a playing style he's not particularly known for. That feistiness was carried over from the first game, when Messi had angrily approached the Monterrey locker room, who then filed a complained to Concacaf before Miami was fined for "an disclosed amount for lack of security in their stadium."

There was some consolation for Messi, who notched an assist from a free-kick to set up a headed goal for Diego Gómez. Too little too late, though. 

Back on the pitch? Back on the scoresheet.

Messi scored just 12 minutes after coming off the substitutes' bench in his return to action for Miami in a 2-2 draw with Colorado on Saturday.

The Argentina star struck a first-time deflected shot in off the post to bring Miami level at 1-1 and, just three minutes later, played an integral part in Leo Alfonso's goal to secure a 2-1 lead over the visitors. Miami, though, couldn't hold on for the win, with Cole Bassett equalizing for Colorado in the 88th minute.

Messi was once again an absentee as Inter Miami CF lost to Monterrey in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals.

Though Messi trained with the rest of the squad the day prior, Miami head coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino confirmed in the media availability ahead of the match that he would not "put the conditions of our players at risk."

Messi last played on March 13 but is battling an ongoing right hamstring issue.

Messi notched up a goal and an assist as Inter Miami defeated Nashville 3-1 (and 5-3 on aggregate) to advance to the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup.

The teams came into the game tied 2-2 after the first leg, but Luis Suárez scored at the end of a nice combination with Messi before the World Cup winner scored one of his own with a cool finish from the center of the penalty area to give Miami a two-goal aggregate cushion.

Messi was on the field to begin the second half, but Miami coach Gerardo Martino substituted him with Robert Taylor five minutes after the restart. It was unclear why Messi, who was rested in his team's 3-2 loss to CF Montreal in MLS on Sunday, was pulled so early in the second half.

Messi got on the scoresheet again as he helped Inter Miami tie Nashville 2-2 in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup round of 16.

Nashville went 2-0 up but Luis Suarez provided an assist for Messi in the 52nd minute as No. 10 used his left foot to squeeze the ball between goalkeeper Joe Willis' outstretched fingers from just outside the box.

Suarez then tied the score with a goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time as he headed home a cross from former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets.

Partners in crime at Barcelona, Messi and Luis Suárez wound back the clock on Saturday as the duo each scored a brace in as Inter Miami routed Florida rivals Orlando City 5-0 at Chase Stadium.

The pair played together for six years at Barcelona and were back to their devastating best. Messi had consecutive goals during a quick span early in the second half to take his tally for the season to three goals in as many games, while Suárez added two assists to his two strikes.

It didn't take long for Messi to notch his first MLS goal of the season, scoring the equalizer in the 1-1 draw with LA Galaxy.

Inter Miami looked all but certain to record their first loss of the campaign before Messi and Jordi Alba -- that classic combination -- orchestrated a goal in the second minute of added time.

Picking up the ball in midfield, Messi and Alba exchanged a series of passes before the 36-year-old Argentine poked home from 8 yards out.

Well, well, well. What a start for the Argentina superstar in South Florida.

It took Messi less than a half to notch his first assist of the season, dribbling into the heart of the RSL defense before a gentle layoff for Robert Taylor, who cut through and finished across Zac MacMath.

Oh, and there was a rude bit of dribbling over an RSL player who seemed to be injured: nice moves, Lio. The clip lit the internet on fire and helped mask a rather backs-against-the-wall second half for the Herons, who held firm despite waves of attacks until a neat counterattack involving Messi and Luis Suárez was converted in style by Diego Gómez.

All in all, Inter Miami have three points in the bag from their opener.