There was still plenty for Lionel Messi to do when he picked up the ball just past the halfway line as Inter Miami launched a counter-attack in their Leagues Cup semi-final clash with Philadelphia Union.
With only one teammate in front of him and the home defence slow to close him down, the veteran Argentine carried the ball forward before unleashing a 30-yard drive that skidded along the turf, past goalkeeper Andre Blake before hitting the bottom corner.
It was a goal that summed up the flying start that Messi has made to his MLS career since moving to Miami. The 36-year-old has now scored nine times in just six games for his new club and his tenth match will be Saturday's final against Nashville SC.
“I think if you’re even a Union fan, you should respect and love how Messi plays the game and how he is as a human being and as a teammate," said Union coach Jim Curtin on Tuesday.
“I mean, we tried our best,” midfielder Daniel Gazdag added. “Obviously, he’s the greatest player of all time. It’s not easy to lock him down.”
Miami have won every game since Messi's arrival and their next match will be the club's first final in what is only their fourth season since the club's inception in 2020. Victory also means they qualify for the Concacaf Champions Cup regional tournament next season and could, potentially, end with them playing in the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup.
This Messi bump has seen the team score 21 goals as they rampaged through the Leagues Cup competition – a World Cup-style knockout tournament contested by teams from Mexico and the US.
Among the scorers against Philadelphia was Messi's former Barca teammate Jordi Alba while Sergio Busquets, another of his Camp Nou contemporaries, was also in the starting line-up at Subaru Park.
"They [Messi, Busquets, and Alba] pass on this confidence to the younger players and [Messi] has this commitment to the game,' said manager Tata Martino, who was Messi's coach at Barca. "He's working a lot, especially on recovery balls and this is infectious to his teammates."
On and off the pitch, the Messi influence has been immediate.
Ahead of his first game for the club – a 2-1 win over Cruz Azul when Messi, inevitably, scored the injury-time winner – defender DeAndre Yedlin revealed that Messi gave each of his teammates a pair of Beats by Dre headphones in the club colours of pink and black.
After the 3-1 over Orlando City, Yedlin made clear the impact Messi – who scored twice in that game – was having not just on Miami, but on opposition players.
"He just gives everyone around him confidence. You can give him balls in difficult situations and know he's going to make something out of it," said the former Newcastle United full-back.
"The flipside is that for the teams we're playing against, it puts a bit of fear in their eyes. They're dropping back on their heels a bit and that gives us more space to play."
Home-grown teenager David Ruiz, who scored the final goal against Philadelphia, admitted that everyone was soaking up the vast knowledge of the former Barca trio.
“It's changed a lot. Everybody has a winning mentality, and everybody's ready to play every tournament, win every game, and every final. They’re players that obviously just try and give advice," he said.
"We're like, young and stuff, we try to run everywhere. That's something that they just told us: 'Oh, just maintain more your position, that the ball’s going to get to you. Stop running for the ball too much where you’re just trapping yourself' – things like that."
After playing the 42nd final of his career against Nashville at their home ground of Geodis Park at the weekend, Messi must turn his attentions to revitalising Miami's MLS fortunes.
They currently sit rock bottom of the Eastern Conference and their points total of 18 is the lowest in the entire MLS. But if they can maintain their current hot streak for the final 12 games, it is by no means beyond the realms of possibility that a play-off place can be achieved
DC United are currently ninth – the final play-off place pot – in the 15-team division, 12 points ahead of Martino's men but with Messi and Co at the helm, anything is possible.
“The whole complexion of the team has changed incredibly,” said Philadelphia captain Alejandro Bedoya on Tuesday. “When you have guys of that calibre, I mean, they just exude confidence ∓and you can see everybody’s confidence just go up.”
But the final word goes to Curtin: "They might already be the best team in the league. That's coming and I don't think anything's stopping them.”
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Specs
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David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
The End of Loneliness
Benedict Wells
Translated from the German by Charlotte Collins
Sceptre
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm
Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh130,000
On sale: now
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Most match wins on clay
Guillermo Vilas - 659
Manuel Orantes - 501
Thomas Muster - 422
Rafael Nadal - 399 *
Jose Higueras - 378
Eddie Dibbs - 370
Ilie Nastase - 338
Carlos Moya - 337
Ivan Lendl - 329
Andres Gomez - 322
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The low down on MPS
What is myofascial pain syndrome?
Myofascial pain syndrome refers to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissue. MPS is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (connective tissue that covers the muscles, which develops knots, also known as trigger points).
What are trigger points?
Trigger points are irritable knots in the soft tissue that covers muscle tissue. Through injury or overuse, muscle fibres contract as a reactive and protective measure, creating tension in the form of hard and, palpable nodules. Overuse and sustained posture are the main culprits in developing trigger points.
What is myofascial or trigger-point release?
Releasing these nodules requires a hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure to release muscular shortness and tightness. This eliminates restrictions in connective tissue in orderto restore motion and alleviate pain. Therapy balls have proven effective at causing enough commotion in the tissue, prompting the release of these hard knots.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Thanksgiving meals to try
World Cut Steakhouse, Habtoor Palace Hotel, Dubai. On Thursday evening, head chef Diego Solis will be serving a high-end sounding four-course meal that features chestnut veloute with smoked duck breast, turkey roulade accompanied by winter vegetables and foie gras and pecan pie, cranberry compote and popcorn ice cream.
Jones the Grocer, various locations across the UAE. Jones’s take-home holiday menu delivers on the favourites: whole roast turkeys, an array of accompaniments (duck fat roast potatoes, sausages wrapped in beef bacon, honey-glazed parsnips and carrots) and more, as well as festive food platters, canapes and both apple and pumpkin pies.
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, The Address Hotel, Dubai. This New Orleans-style restaurant is keen to take the stress out of entertaining, so until December 25 you can order a full seasonal meal from its Takeaway Turkey Feast menu, which features turkey, homemade gravy and a selection of sides – think green beans with almond flakes, roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet potato casserole and bread stuffing – to pick up and eat at home.
The Mattar Farm Kitchen, Dubai. From now until Christmas, Hattem Mattar and his team will be producing game- changing smoked turkeys that you can enjoy at home over the festive period.
Nolu’s, The Galleria Mall, Maryah Island Abu Dhabi. With much of the menu focused on a California inspired “farm to table” approach (with Afghani influence), it only seems right that Nolu’s will be serving their take on the Thanksgiving spread, with a brunch at the Downtown location from 12pm to 4pm on Friday.
'Gold'
Director:Anthony Hayes
Stars:Zaf Efron, Anthony Hayes
Rating:3/5
The biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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Result
Qualifier: Islamabad United beat Karachi Kings by eight wickets
Fixtures
Tuesday, Lahore: Eliminator 1 - Peshawar Zalmi v Quetta Gladiators
Wednesday, Lahore: Eliminator 2 – Karachi Kings v Winner of Eliminator 1
Sunday, Karachi: Final – Islamabad United v Winner of Eliminator 2
