VIDEO: Even Philly Fans Can’t Hate Messi’s First Goal vs Philadelphia Union

The Phillies are heating up down the stretch. The Eagles are bringing some training camp practice drama ahead of a potential Super Bowl season. The Sixers are imploding. And despite all of those headline-grabbers, it’s the Philadelphia Union that take center stage on Tuesday as they host Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in Leagues Cup action.

Philly fans won’t like the result of this game, but even we have to give some begrudging respect to this absolutely ridiculous goal from the GOAT.

Lionel Messi Highlight

I mean, what are you going to do to stop him at this point? Messi may be past his prime, but this isn’t a “David Beckham-L.A. Galaxy” situation. Messi is still an absolute class (or two, or three) above most MLS players, and he has an unbelievable 9 goals in his first 6 games with Inter Miami (so far — I’ll have to update this story if he scores again against Philly tonight).

This game is the Leagues Cup semifinal and won’t count toward the MLS standings, which is good news for a Philadelphia Union team that sits third in the East at 12-4-7.

Inter Miami is at the bottom of the standings, but Messi has obviously transformed their roster entirely and gives them a much better chance at winning the league. They still trail Philadelphia in the odds though.

Philadelphia may be all but drawing dead in the Leagues Cup now, and fans will be happy to turn their attention back to MLS play down the stretch.

We’re back to being favorites our next time out, when we host FC Dallas on August 20.

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