Lionel Messi scored a goal and had two assists as Inter Miami beat Honduran giants Club Olimpia Deportivo 5-0 during a preseason match in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, on Saturday night.
Messi scored in the 27th minute of the match for his second goal of Inter Miami’s preseason, while his two assists came during a three-minute stretch before halftime.
It was a vintage performance by Messi, the reigning MLS MVP who will help Inter Miami begin the MLS season and compete in the Concacaf Champions Cup later this month.
The game was played despite a 7.6 magnitude earthquake striking in the Caribbean Sea less than two hours before kickoff, north of Honduras and southwest of the Cayman Islands, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
Inter Miami will return to South Florida after the game, and Messi could possibly attend the Super Bowl in New Orleans on Sunday.
Messi found Federico Redondo (44’) and Noah Allen (45’+2) for his assists to help Inter Miami take a 3-0 lead heading into the second half.
Luis Suarez, who assisted Messi’s goal, scored his first goal this preseason in the 54th minute on a pass from U.S. men’s national team member Benjamin Cremaschi.
Ryan Sailor also scored for Inter Miami with an assist from Leo Afonso in 79th minute.
Messi left the game as a substitute in the 62nd minute, as the club turns its attention to the next four games, separated by four days or less, it will play the rest of February.
Inter Miami’s preseason concludes next Friday, when the club meets MLS rival Orlando City at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
Inter Miami will play the first leg of its Concacaf Champions Cup first-round matchup on the road against Sporting Kansas City on Feb. 18. The second leg is set for Feb. 25 at home.
Inter Miami will play it MLS season opener at home against New York City FC on Feb. 22.
Inter Miami has won all four of its preseason games under new coach, and former Messi teammate, Javier Mascherano.
Messi scored a header and played 66 minutes in the preseason opener against Mexican champions Club America in Las Vegas on Jan. 18. He played 72 minutes against Universitario in Peru on Jan. 29. Inter Miami won both games on penalty kicks.
Messi was also the catalyst behind two goals while playing 76 minutes in a 3-1 win against San Miguelito in Panama City last Sunday.
Check out these highlights from Inter Miami’s win in Honduras:
Ryan Sailor goal: Inter Miami 5, Olimpia 0
Messi substituted out in 62’: Inter Miami 4, Olimpia 0
Lionel Messi’s night has come to an end with a substitution in the 62nd minute. He leaves after scoring a goal and assisting two others.
Luis Suarez goal: Inter Miami 4, Olimpia 0
Inter Miami is in full control, and Luis Suarez has scored has first goal of the year in the 54th minute. Suarez took a soft pass from Benjamin Cremaschi, and sent a left boot right under the goalie’s defense. Suarez assisted Messi’s goal earlier in the match.
Noah Allen goal: Inter Miami 3, Olimpia 0
Lionel Messi has picked up his second assist in stoppage time during the first half. Messi received an outlet pass from Luis Suarez, and pulled the goalie away from the net before finding Noah Allen in front of the net just before halftime (45’+2).
Federico Redondo goal: Inter Miami 2, Olimpia 0
Lionel Messi assisted on Federico Redondo’s goal in the 44th minute, to help Inter Miami take a 2-0 lead over Olimpia. Messi delivered a soft pass to Redondo, who fired it into the net just before halftime.
Lionel Messi goal: Inter Miami 1, Olimpia 0
Lionel Messi has found the back of the net in Honduras, as Luis Suarez found the reigning MLS MVP trailing to his left side in the 27th minute. Inter Miami leads 1-0.
How to watch Inter Miami vs. Olimpia live stream?
The match begins at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. Honduras, 9 p.m. in Argentina). It will be played at Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Here’s how you can watch it:
U.S. and Canada: InterMiamiCF.com
Honduras Local Broadcast: TELEVICENTRO
Rest of World: https://intermiamicf.co/OneFootball
Inter Miami’s YouTube page.
Inter Miami wants to monitor Messi’s playing time
“He has been playing more minutes each game, and has finished the three games well,” Mascherano said of Messi.
Messi scored a header and played 66 minutes in the preseason opener against Mexican champions Club America in Las Vegas on Jan. 18. He played 72 minutes against Universitario in Peru on Jan. 29. He was the catalyst behind two goals in 76 minutes against San Miguelito in Panama City last Sunday.
Mascherano added “we must pay attention” to Messi’s playing time due to the upcoming schedule.
Inter Miami’s last preseason game is Feb. 14 against MLS rival Orlando City at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
Inter Miami will play the first leg of its Concacaf Champions Cup first-round matchup on the road against Sporting Kansas City on Feb. 18.
Inter Miami will play it MLS season opener at home against New York City FC on Feb. 22.
And the second leg of Inter Miami’s Concacaf Champions Cup first round matchup on Feb. 25.
“We know he feels good on the field, it is where he wants to be,” Mascherano said of Messi. “So, we will do everything we can to let him play without taking any risks.”
