Lionel Messi scored two late goals to lift Inter Miami to a 3-1 comeback win over Orlando City, booking their place in the Leagues Cup final on Wednesday.

 

Messi returned after missing two games with a thigh injury and converted a penalty in the 77th minute to make it 1-1. In the 88th minute, he combined with Jordi Alba to score his second and put Miami ahead.

 

Telasco Segovia added a third goal in stoppage time as Inter Miami advanced to its second consecutive Leagues Cup final. They won the tournament in 2023, Messi’s first season in Major League Soccer (MLS).

 

Miami will face either the Los Angeles Galaxy or the Seattle Sounders in Sunday’s final. Orlando will play in the third-place game. The top three teams in the tournament will qualify for the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup.

 

Orlando had taken the lead in first-half stoppage time when Marco Pasalic scored after a deflection inside the box. Inter Miami’s appeals for handball were checked by VAR, but the goal stood.

 

Orlando looked strong at the start of the second half, but the match changed when Tadeo Allende won a penalty in the 74th minute. David Brekalo fouled Allende and received a second yellow card, leaving Orlando with 10 players. Messi scored the penalty, then added his second goal 11 minutes later, sending the crowd into celebrations.

 

Orlando had beaten Miami twice earlier this season, including a 4-1 win this month, but Messi’s late heroics ended that streak.