Against FC Cincinnati
©IMAGO
Lionel Messi led Inter Miami to the MLS playoff semi-finals with another gala performance. The Argentine was the outstanding player on the pitch in the 4-0 (1-0) quarter-final win at FC Cincinnati with one goal and three assists. This season his haul – including the Club World Cup – is 38 goals and 22 assists in 40 games.
In the round of the best four, Messi and Co. will face ex-Gladbacher Hannes Wolf’s New York City FC, who defeated the Philadelphia Union 1-0 (1-0). NYCFC has a squad value of 48 million, Messi’s Miami is the most valuable team in the league with 78 million euros. For comparison: the squad of 1. FC Heidenheim is valued at 57 million euros, that of FC St. Pauli at 64 million euros. For Miami it will be the first playoff semi-final since its debut year in 2020.
Messi took the lead with a header and initiated the quarter-final success against the second team in the Eastern Conference regular season, Cincinnati (19th minute). After the break, the 38-year-old prepared the goals for his Argentinian compatriots Tadeo Allende (62nd/74th) and
Mateo Silvetti (57th) performed outstandingly. In addition to the world footballer, there are eleven other Argentines in the Miami squad.
Müller is waiting for his semi-final opponent
Ex-Bayern professional Thomas Müller and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC (squad value: €54 million) beat Los Angeles FC (€66 million) in a penalty shootout on Saturday (local time) and are in the final of the Western Conference. The opponent will be determined on Monday (local time) between San Diego FC and Minnesota United FC.