Lionel Messi Scores Brace And Sets up Another on Return From Injury For Inter Miami in MLS

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Lionel Messi scored a brace and set up another on his return from injury lay-off as Inter Miami came from a goal down to beat Philadelphia Union 3-1 in the Major League Soccer (MLS) at the Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Saturday (September 14) night.

Mikael Uhre had put Union in front, scoring in the 2nd minute, but two first half goals from Messi (26th and 30th minute) saw Inter Miami earn the lead heading into the break before the Argentine superstar assisted Luis Suarez for a third goal in the second-half stoppage time.

While Messi provided his 14th assist of the season, his former Barcelona teammates Jordi Alba and Suarez assisted the Argentine to score his 13th and 14th goals of the season on a night Miami became the first team to cross the 60-point mark on the points table.

Messi last played for Miami on June 1 before departing for Argentina's Copa America campaign, and he hadn't played any competitive minutes since suffering an ankle ligament injury in the Copa America final on July 14, when Argentina clinched the title.

But it didn't take Messi long to assert himself and erase Miami's early deficit. In the 26th minute, Suarez laid the ball to the Argentine's left with his first touch. Messi took the layoff, evaded Kai Wagner's challenge then drilled a low strike to beat Andrew Rick.

Four minutes later, it was Alba providing the cross directly for Messi to run onto at the penalty spot and guide in. Rick dove low and touched the ball, but couldn't keep it out.

Miami weathered considerable second-half pressure before Messi made his final contribution, laying the ball off for Suarez to curl in the bottom left corner on Miami's final foray forward of the evening.

Messi and Co will next be in action in the upcoming midweek when Inter Miami continue their MLS action in a trip to Atlanta to face Atlanta United at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Wednesday (September 18).