Messi brace lifts Inter Miami as Hoyos era begins with dramatic win

Lionel Messi struck twice to give Inter Miami a 3‑2 win in Denver on Ángel Guillermo Hoyos’ debut, helping the team climb to second in the Eastern Conference. The week had been dominated by Javier Mascherano’s sudden departure, but Hoyos, who coached Messi in Barcelona’s youth ranks, saw his star forward immediately take charge.

Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot before sealing the victory with a superb top‑corner finish in the seventy‑ninth minute, moments after Colorado had levelled at 2‑2. Germán Berterame added Miami’s other goal with a header from a Mateo Silvetti cross. The result ends a run of two home draws and follows Miami’s Concacaf Champions Cup exit to Nashville. Messi now has seven league goals, two behind Dallas striker Petar Musa. Nashville remain top after a 2‑0 win over Atlanta United, where Cristian Espinoza scored as Gerardo Martino’s difficult return continued.