Messi masterclass fires Miami into knockouts

Lionel Messi scored two first-half goals and assisted on another to lead Inter Miami to a 4-0 dismantling of Atlanta United and advance to the knockout stage of the Leagues Cup on Tuesday.

After coming off the bench to score a dramatic winner in his debut on Friday night, the newly minted team captain from Argentina wasted no time in his first start with the Major League Soccer side.

The World Cup champion received a lofted pass from former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets and, after initially hitting the post, fired home his own rebound to put Miami in front in the eighth minute to roars of approval from the home crowd.

Messi added a second goal in the 22nd minute on a cross from teammate Robert Taylor, who notched a brace of his own.

Inter Miami has now won its group in the Leagues Cup, which is a World Cup-style tournament featuring all teams from MLS and Mexico's Liga MX.