Lionel Messi leads Inter Miami into their first EVER final with another STUNNING goal in 4-1 Leagues Cup victory against Philadelphia Union

Lionel Messi scored a stunning shot from 35 yards out to lead Inter Miami to the Leagues Cup final with a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union.

Miami got off to a flying start as Messi’s striker Josef Martinez scored as early as the third minute, grabbing a long ball and firing it into the far corner.

It was a dream start for Miami in one of the toughest games the team has faced on paper since Messi arrived a month ago against second-place finishers in MLS last season.

This time there was no David Beckham, a Miami co-owner, watching from the stands in Philadelphia, nor was his wife Antonela present at the road race. The Messis and the Beckhams were recently inadvertently involved in an incident outside a Miami nightclub – a restaurant claimed security hit him because they thought he was trying to photograph the Miami star.

Messi and the Miami team were booed as they walked onto the pitch for Tuesday night’s game. But it made no difference – the World Cup winner showed exactly why there is so much excitement surrounding his presence here just 20 minutes into the match.

Messi’s long-range strike sent Miami to the Leagues Cup final this weekend

Messi picked up a ball tipped into his path by Martinez, strolled forward and, realizing he was about to be taken off, made the most of the space around him by unleashing a luscious left-footed attack from 35 yards out .

Staying low, the ball veered out of reach of Union goalkeeper Andre Blake, settling into the corner and leaving what had been a rowdy crowd in Subaru Park stunned.

There was more to come before the break – Jordi Alba rounded off a fantastic move for his first goal in Miami colours, going one-on-one and beating Blake with the composure of a striker like Messi or Martinez.

Union coach Jim Curtin told his team clearly at half-time not to respect players like Messi, Alba and Sergio Busquets. He also made two changes, putting Jack McGlynn and Mikael Uhre in for Leon Flach and Damion Lowe.

Union attacked Miami and had some success. Drake Callendar made an excellent save to deny Chris Donovan’s header and Union got one back through substitute Alejandro Bedoya in the 73rd minute.

It felt at the time that the momentum was with Union and with 15 minutes plus stoppage time left, a second goal could have made things nerve-wracking for Miami.

But instead, David Ruiz made the game safe for Miami with a smart low finish in the 84th minute to allay fears of a Union comeback.

“We worked our way to the final and we made it,” Messi said on Instagram after the game. “We’re still at the last step.”

Miami coach Tata Martino was full of praise for his star trio of Messi, Busquets and Alba after another impressive victory.

“They (Messi, Busquets and Alba) pass on this confidence to the younger players and (Messi) has this dedication to the game,” said Martino. “He works a lot, especially on recovery balls and this is contagious to his teammates.”

There are lessons to be learned for Miami ahead of the final – a more ruthless team might have made the second half more difficult for them, but when you have Messi on your team it only takes a second for the game to be taken away in Miami’s favour.

The win also moves Miami into next season’s CONCACAF Cup whether or not they win the final, but now the focus is firmly on the silverware bid this weekend.

“Our team will play in an international tournament next year, that was our goal,” Martino added.

“That has made us very motivated and confident, but we don’t let that distract us from what we need as a team to get better. We don’t confuse our success so far with the realization that we still have a long way to go.’