This time it was a rather lackluster performance by Lionel Messi in his fifth appearance for Inter Miami. When he and his new team faced FC Charlotte on Friday night, the Argentinian didn’t play quite as furiously as he had in his first four appearances, but he managed to score again.
After Messi started the 3-0 lead with the penultimate pass in the quarter-finals of the Leagues Cup, he added the fourth goal of the night four minutes before the end of regular time to help Miami into the last four. There, the world champion from Qatar meets Philadelphia Union and Kai Wagner.
The 26-year-old left-back was trained at SSV Ulm and FC Augsburg and later also played for the second team at FC Schalke 04 and Würzburger Kickers. Now Wagner meets seven-time world footballer Messi next Tuesday – and possibly even as a direct opponent.
Mukhtar is also in the semifinals with Nashville
In addition to Wagner, Hany Mukhtar is a second German in the semi-finals of the Leagues Cup. The Nashville FC midfielder contributed a goal and three assists to make it 5-0 against Minnesota – now the native of Berlin is also part of the semi-finals, which thanks to Messi is attracting more and more attention.
