Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates celebrate with the trophy after winning the Leagues Cup. AFP
Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates celebrate with the trophy after winning the Leagues Cup. AFP
Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates celebrate with the trophy after winning the Leagues Cup. AFP
Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates celebrate with the trophy after winning the Leagues Cup. AFP

Leagues Cup: 'Best in the world' Lionel Messi leads Inter Miami to first trophy


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Lionel Messi has won his first trophy with Inter Miami after scoring a stunner to guide his new team to Leagues Cup final glory against Nashville on Saturday night.

Messi scored a stunning goal to give Miami a 23rd-minute lead at Geodis Park, before Fafa Picault levelled for Nashville 12 minutes into the second half. The final was then decided on penalties, with Miami emerging victorious 10-9.

After Leonardo Campana missed a last-second chance to win the game in regulation for Miami, the game went to a shoot-out which ended in a duel between the two goalkeepers and Elliot Panicco's shot being saved by Miami's Drake Callender.

Messi and his teammates rushed to celebrate with the American goalkeeper, who had made some key saves late in the game to keep his team alive.

“It’s a huge honor to play a role in our first win in a final,” Callender said. "It’s pretty surreal. Very emotional. This team works so hard day-in, day-out to be able to perform like this on a night like this. And to have it come down to the very end, it was amazing to see the grit, just the belief of what we’re capable of. It’s something special and I’m just blessed to be a part of it.”

Miami, in their third season of existence, were rock bottom of Major League Soccer when Messi joined them a month ago but he has utterly transformed the team, leading them on an unbeaten run to the League Cup title.

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner has now scored 10 goals in seven games for his new club and on Wednesday has the chance to reach another final when his team take on Cincinnati in the semi-final of the US Open Cup.

This was not the dominant, entertaining Miami that in the past month has lit up the tournament, featuring MLS and Mexican Liga MX clubs, but the win was sweet nonetheless.

"It was very exciting. The draw was a fair result and on penalties is the luck of the champion, which in this case came in our favour," said Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets, who joined the club shortly after former Barcelona teammate Messi.

"I am very happy to win our first title in just one month, the club's first. The team is growing by leaps and bounds and we are very happy."

"We have infected the team with our spirit, our work, our character and experience. We are making a solid team ... And then we have Leo, who makes a difference because he's the best in the world."

Nashville set out with the clear intention to limit the impact of Busquets and by extension Messi and they were effective in forcing Miami to play a slower type of possession football, deeper in their own half.

Gary Smith's side sent an early warning that they could trouble Miami at set-pieces with Walker Zimmerman's header from a Lukas MacNaughton corner forcing Callender into a low save.

Miami were probing, with Messi dropping deeper and looking for gaps in the home defence. But with Walker Zimmerman marshalling the back line well chances were hard to come by until Robert Taylor spun and turned and fired a fierce drive which Nashville keeper Elliot Panicco did well to keep out.

Three minutes later, Miami had the lead – and the source of their breakthrough was no surprise.

Taylor's attempted pass inside was blocked and the ball fell to Messi who zipped past Zimmerman, opening enough space to his left to unleash an unstoppable drive from over 25 yards out which flew into the top corner past the helpless Panicco.

  • Lionel Messi is hoisted in the air by his teammates after Inter Miami win the Leagues Cup 2023 final against Nashville at GEODIS Park on August 19, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. AFP
    Lionel Messi is hoisted in the air by his teammates after Inter Miami win the Leagues Cup 2023 final against Nashville at GEODIS Park on August 19, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. AFP
  • Lionel Messi and defender DeAndre Yedlin are presented with the Leagues Cup trophy. EPA
    Lionel Messi and defender DeAndre Yedlin are presented with the Leagues Cup trophy. EPA
  • Inter Miami celebrate after defeating Nashville to win the Leagues Cup 2023 final. AFP
    Inter Miami celebrate after defeating Nashville to win the Leagues Cup 2023 final. AFP
  • Lionel Messi poses with his Best Player Award and Top Scorer Award after the Leagues Cup final. AFP
    Lionel Messi poses with his Best Player Award and Top Scorer Award after the Leagues Cup final. AFP
  • Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates celebrate with the Leagues Cup trophy. Getty
    Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates celebrate with the Leagues Cup trophy. Getty
  • Lionel Messi celebrates on the pitch after Inter Miami's victory over Nashville in the Leagues Cup final. Getty
    Lionel Messi celebrates on the pitch after Inter Miami's victory over Nashville in the Leagues Cup final. Getty
  • Lionel Messi celebrates after Inter Miami win the Leagues Cup. AFP
    Lionel Messi celebrates after Inter Miami win the Leagues Cup. AFP
  • Lionel Messi prepares for his shot during penalty shootout in the Leagues Cup 2023 final. AFP
    Lionel Messi prepares for his shot during penalty shootout in the Leagues Cup 2023 final. AFP
  • Lionel Messi controls the ball during first half of the Leagues Cup 2023 final. AFP
    Lionel Messi controls the ball during first half of the Leagues Cup 2023 final. AFP

Miami looked in total control, playing with confidence bordering on swagger, but it was a different story after the interval.

From a corner Picault won a header at the back post which ricocheted in off the foot of Benjamin Cremaschi and Callender.

Suddenly Nashville had the belief and their German forward Hany Mukhtar came alive, testing Miami with his speedy runs and Callender with a blast from the right.

But in the final seconds, Campana should have won the game for Miami, when he rounded Panicco but from a tight angle could only hit the post with the goal at his mercy.

Then came penalties and with all 10 outfield players having shot, with one miss for each side, it came down to the keepers and Callender kept his cool with his shot before denying Panicco and launching the celebrations.

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Pupils in Abu Dhabi are learning the importance of being active, eating well and leading a healthy lifestyle now and throughout adulthood, thanks to a newly launched programme 'Healthy Lifestyle'.

As part of the Healthy Lifestyle programme, specially trained coaches from City Football Schools, along with Healthpoint physicians have visited schools throughout Abu Dhabi to give fun and interactive lessons on working out regularly, making the right food choices, getting enough sleep and staying hydrated, just like their favourite footballers.

Organised by Manchester City FC and Healthpoint, Manchester City FC’s regional healthcare partner and part of Mubadala’s healthcare network, the ‘Healthy Lifestyle’ programme will visit 15 schools, meeting around 1,000 youngsters over the next five months.

Designed to give pupils all the information they need to improve their diet and fitness habits at home, at school and as they grow up, coaches from City Football Schools will work alongside teachers to lead the youngsters through a series of fun, creative and educational classes as well as activities, including playing football and other games.

Dr Mai Ahmed Al Jaber, head of public health at Healthpoint, said: “The programme has different aspects - diet, exercise, sleep and mental well-being. By having a focus on each of those and delivering information in a way that children can absorb easily it can help to address childhood obesity."

The biog

Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia

Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins

Favourite dish: Grilled fish

Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma

When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Results

2pm: Serve U – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Violent Justice, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)

2.30pm: Al Shafar Investment – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,400m; Winner: Desert Wisdom, Bernardo Pinheiro, Ahmed Al Shemaili

3pm: Commercial Bank of Dubai – Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Fawaareq, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson

3.30pm: Shadwell – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer

4pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Rakeez, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar

4.30pm: Al Redha Insurance Brokers – Handicap (TB) Dh78,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Capla Crusader, Bernardo Pinheiro, Rashed Bouresly

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Updated: August 20, 2023, 4:55 AM