Messi scored on penalties – and reached the next final with Miami

Lionel Messi has found the best recipe to silence the critics of his USA transfer. The Argentine continues to be on the road to success with Inter Miami. After beating Cincinnati 5-4 on penalties, Messi was celebrated for reaching the final of the US Open Cup. Houston Dynamo awaits in the final on September 27 as an opponent.

Even though Messi had not scored a goal for the first time, he was instrumental in the success. In regular time, his team had caught up from a 0-2 deficit. Messi prepared the equalizer to make it 2-2 in the 97th minute of regular time. The 36-year-old took responsibility for the penalty shoot-out – and converted the first penalty. This paved the way for ascension.

Messi last won his first trophy in a 10-9 penalty shoot-out win over Nashville in the American League Cup. Messi remains undefeated with Inter Miami. In the first seven games for Miami, Messi has scored ten goals.

Success streak as the last

Above all, however, Messi has completely transformed the hitherto completely unsuccessful club in terms of sport. Inter Miami is still bottom of the table in the Eastern Conference League in fifteenth place with 18 points from 22 games. Even if table penultimate Toronto (19) played three games less. The third last FC New York is already missing eight points. Sporting miracles can hardly be expected despite Messi and Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, who are also committed. So far, Messi has not played any league games because Major League Soccer (MLS) has been suspended since July.

The first games are now scheduled for the end of August. Inter Miami travel to the New York Red Bulls on Sunday.

Messi has also triggered a soccer hype off the pitch that is unparalleled in the USA. His first goal against Mexican club Cruz Azul, for example, was viewed 55 million times on various social media channels. The number of subscribers to the club’s Instagram channel has risen from one million to 14 million within a few weeks. No wonder, after co-owner David Beckham’s club staged the arrival of the Argentine superstar perfectly.

Ticket prices explode

Games with Lionel Messi are completely sold out at home and away. According to the American business magazine “Forbes”, the cheapest ticket for Messi’s home game premiere cost the equivalent of 477 euros. Before that, tickets were available for 29 euros. And for the away game at champions Los Angeles on September 3, the cheapest ticket costs 558 euros.