Inter Miami defender Gonzalo Luján, center heads the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match against the Galaxy, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Lionel Messi wouldn’t be denied for long.

The Argentine superstar had missed numerous scoring chances in his return from injury Saturday night against the Galaxy, but in the match’s waning minutes, Messi scored the go-ahead goal, then assisted on another to help lift Inter Miami to a 3-1 victory.

Messi did not start the match, instead coming on at the beginning of the second half after being sidelined for two games with a right hamstring injury. He suffered the injury in Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup match against Necaxa on Aug. 2.

Messi slipped through defenders with his

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