Inter Miami manager Tata Martino has delivered his honest verdict on Lionel Messi’s performance against Real Salt Lake.
The Argentine international was named in the starting XI for the 2024 MLS opener, with Luis Suarez joining Messi in the attack alongside Robert Taylor.
Whilst it was the Finnish international who scored on the night, Messi was at the heart of everything for Inter Miami, with the attacker claiming an assist as Diego Gomez secured a 2-0 win for the Herons.
Inter Miami manager praises ‘free’ Lionel Messi after Real Salt Lake win
And speaking to the press via Goal post-match, manager Martino was pleased with what he saw from Messi, with the Inter Miami coach now claiming that the forward is playing with freedom again.
Martino said when asked about Messi’s performance against Real Salt Lake: “If anybody had been skeptical about what this team can do, I think the first half showed them.
“I saw [Messi] playing free on the field. And with the same fine touch he always had. And he showed some speed too. He has a characteristic that no other player has.
“He grabs the ball very far from the rival goal and the feeling he gives is that he will generate something and will end in a goal situation. The play he had alone against two players at the end of the game is a sign that he is good physically and also happy to be on the pitch.”
MLS fans saw Lionel Messi at his genius best last night
Messi has shown what he is capable of in pure moments of magic in his short time at Inter Miami, yet last night was a complete performance from the attacker.
The Argentine ran the show for Inter Miami and caused RSL problems the entire night, with Messi unlucky not to have scored had it not been for some top defending and goalkeeping from the opposition.
Indeed, Messi at this level is unstoppable for any player, and the Herons will hope the 36-year-old can remain fit enough to keep these performance levels up for the remainder of the season.