Inter Miami CF vs DC United

Why Lionel Messi allowed Inter Miami team-mate to take penalty – with Mateo Silvetti fluffing his lines before 'abnormal' Argentine GOAT wrapped up vital MLS win

Lionel Messi surprisingly stood aside after seeing Inter Miami awarded a penalty against D.C. United, with Mateo Silvetti being allowed to step up to the spot. He fluffed his lines when hitting the crossbar, but Messi still had the final say when wrapping up a crucial victory for the Herons in their ongoing bid to secure a place in the MLS play-offs.

Inter Miami player ratings vs D.C. United: Lionel Messi bails out the Herons as the Black and Red nearly snatch result

At 38, Lionel Messi can still learn new tricks. In a rare flash of direct play, the Argentine’s clever assist set the tone in a 3-1 win over a stubborn D.C. United - giving Miami their first winning streak in MLS since July. Still, it wasn’t as straightforward as Messi and Co. hoped, with Christian Benteke making things interesting in the second half.