Inter Miami’s top scorer savors his title with Leo Messi lurking ahead of NYCFC matchup
Leo Campana has made history as Inter Miami’s all-time leading scorer, achieving his 30th goal in the most recent game. However, he realizes that this title may only be temporary due to the presence of a certain renowned teammate.
Only three goals separate Campana from his teammate Lion Messi, an Argentine champion who is back in action following a significant injury stint. The 24-year-old Ecuadorian talent is enjoying his moment at the top as Inter Miami prepares for a match against New York City FC at Yankee Stadium this Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.
“Honestly, it’s amusing because my teammates joked with me after the match, saying, ‘Hey, savor this because it might only last a week or two,’” Campana chuckled on Friday.
He achieved his record-breaking goal with a free kick during the second half of Inter Miami’s 2-2 tie against Atlanta United last Wednesday.
<p“Right now, this is my week,” he remarked. “I hope to keep scoring and improving, but I know they are right behind me.”
Apart from Messi, Campana pointed out fellow scoring standout Luis Suarez, who leads the club with 21 goals and ranks fourth on the all-time list for the team.
Messi and Suarez, who both came off the bench in the game against Atlanta, might have longer playing times in the upcoming Saturday match against NYCFC. This will be the last of three matches in one week for Inter Miami, which won’t compete again until September 28.
Inter Miami is currently leading the MLS Supporters’ Shield standings with 63 points. Winning the Shield would mark another title for the team during Messi’s era and could set them up for even greater success.
How to stream NYCFC vs. Inter Miami live?
The match between Inter Miami and NYCFC starts on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET (3 p.m. in Argentina) and will be available for live streaming on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
Will Messi play against NYCFC at Yankee Stadium?
Yes, Messi is slated to play, as confirmed by Inter Miami’s assistant coach Javi Morales on Friday. This will be Messi’s third match in a week since returning from his ankle injury following Copa America.
“The important thing is that his ankle is healing well. He is gradually getting back into form with each match,” stated Morales. “He’s the kind of player who always wants to contribute, and we’ll deploy him whenever we can because not only does he greatly enhance our performance, but we also enjoy having him with us on the field.”
Messi featured for around 25 minutes in Atlanta, marking his first away game with Inter Miami since May 11 in Montreal. These limited minutes followed his full appearance last Saturday, where he played the entire game, leading to a 3-1 victory against the Philadelphia Union, scoring two goals and providing an additional assist.
Throughout the season for Inter Miami, Messi has made significant contributions with a total of 24 goal involvements – including 14 goals and 10 assists – across just 14 MLS matches.
