Lionel Messi marked his return to Major League Soccer action with two assists as defending champions Inter Miami were held to a 2-2 draw by Atlanta United on Saturday.
The match was delayed by 90 minutes because of thunderstorms and lightning, but Messi quickly became the centre of attention once play began.
The Argentine, who recently announced his retirement from international football, set up Brazil midfielder Casemiro for Miami’s opener in the 32nd minute, with the former Real Madrid star heading in Messi’s corner.
Atlanta responded three minutes later through former Newcastle forward Miguel Almirón, who fired a low shot past the Miami defence.
Messi then helped create Miami’s second goal, starting the move from the left before former Barcelona and Liverpool forward Luis Suárez finished calmly just before half-time.
Atlanta, however, rescued a point when Swiss striker Breel Embolo converted an 87th-minute penalty.
Elsewhere, Toronto and Chicago produced an eight-goal thriller that ended 4-4, with Toronto’s Josh Sargent scoring a hat-trick before Derrick Etienne equalised in second-half stoppage time.
Philadelphia defeated Montreal 2-0, with 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan scoring in the 75th minute. The goal took his season tally to four, alongside seven assists, giving him 11 goal contributions—a record for a 16-year-old in an MLS season.
In Orlando, Antoine Griezmann scored the only goal as the hosts beat San Diego 1-0, while Austin and San Jose drew 1-1 after Guilherme Biro struck in the seventh minute of stoppage time.
