Let Lionel Messi back into a game and he'll make you pay | Opinion

Lionel Messi remains an unstoppable force in soccer. No matter how much caution is taken against him, he consistently finds a way to make teams pay. This reality was on display during a recent match between the Chicago Fire and Inter Miami, as well as in his career-long record of 13 assists. The Fire underestimated Messi, settling for a few shots and a goal from Robert Lewandowski before allowing the Argentine maestro to dominate the second half.

In the 41st minute, Messi outmaneuvered the Fire defense and managed to deflect a shot towards the goal, only to have it saved by goalkeeper Chris Brady. In the 47th minute, Messi provided a perfect assist to Casemiro, who headed the ball home for an equalizer. Unfortunately, this costly draw came at a crucial time, as New England's victory put Chicago in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings.

Despite the loss, the Fire coach, Gregg Berhalter, emphasized the importance of not giving Messi ample time and opportunity on the field. "Anything can happen in these games," Berhalter pointed out. "When you have quality players on the field, anything can happen." Messi and Robert Lewandowski, who face each other for the first time since the 2022 World Cup, drew a large crowd to Soldier Field, with nearly 63,000 fans in attendance.