It has been a fairytale start for Lionel Messi in the Major League Soccer. Messi has netted seven goals in the four matches he has thus far played for new club Inter Miami CF. The World Cup winner once again weaved his magic and scored a brace as Inter Miami defeated FC Dallas in a penalty shootout 5-3 after a 4-4 draw in regulation time of round of 32 in the Leagues Cup on Sunday.

Messi scored in the sixth minute of the game to put his team in front. But, it looked like Inter Miami CF were on the verge of knockout after they trailed by 4-2 after an own goal from Robert Taylor in the 68th minute.

However, the visitors bounced back after Marco Farfan returned with favor as he also scored an own goal in the 80th minute. Messi then equalized in the 85th minute to take the match into extra time with his typical free-kick.

The Argentine then also scored from the spot kick in the shootout. With this brace, Messi has become the Herons’ top goal scorer in 2023 and he has played only four matches for the club so far.

“I don’t get tired of talking to him, I never will,” Cremaschi said after Messi’s latest heroics on MLS season pass. “It’s amazing what he can do and nobody expected him to do what he’s doing. He scored twice and two times in almost every game and it’s just impressive. We can’t wait so we keep on going like that and [he] helps us to get as far as we possibly can.”

Benjamin Cremaschi said he was optimistic about converting his chance when he was asked to take the final spot-kick.

“When they gave me the fifth penalty, I knew where I was going,” Cremaschi said. “I knew how I was going to take it and just trust in what I can do and it went that way.”

Inter Miami will play the Leagues Cup quarterfinals against either Houston Dynamo FC or Charlotte FC on Friday.