Lionel Messi scored twice and contributed an assist as Inter Miami crushed Atlanta United 4-0 in a wholly one-sided match in his first start for the team.
The 36-year-old Argentina star scored twice in the opening 22 minutes before helping out colleague Robert Taylor in the second half.
After scoring his second goal, Messi pointed at Inter Miami owner David Beckham.
His effort last week followed a game-winning free kick in stoppage time during his debut.
“He can do everything on the ball. He can keep it in tight spaces, and he makes the right decision 100% of the time,” Taylor said in a post-match interview. “Most of the time he’ll find one of his team-mates.
“He brings so much quality to the team, so much. I mean, he’s the best player in the world.
“This is what he does – he scores two goals, he scored last game, gets another assist. It’s a dream come true to play with him.”
