Former Argentina forward Jorge Valdano has hailed Lionel Messi after his prolific start in the Major League Soccer for Inter Miami CF. Messi has scored three braces in the first four matches he has played for the American club in the Leagues Cup.

Messi scored a brace as Inter Miami defeated FC Dallas in a penalty shootout 5-3 after a 4-4 draw in regulation time of round of 32 in the Leagues Cup on Sunday.

Messi scored in the sixth minute of the game to put his team in front. However, FC Dallas was leading by 4-3 but Messi equalised in the 85th minute to take the match into extra time with a typical free-kick.

Messi has been at his absolute best for Inter Miami CF since joining the club and he has been able to hit the ground running. The World Cup winner has scored a total of seven goals in the four matches he has played.

Ergo, Messi has taken American football by storm with his heroics and he has been just unstoppable.

“He (Lionel Messi) is indeed shaking up American football,” Valdano said (h/t Spanish sports daily MARCA). “What a player of that category does is turn the heads of all football lovers towards the place where he is. And when he also scores more than one goal per game and gives real exhibitions, he leaves us all with our mouths open.”

Valdano wants Messi to keep going in his career even after winning the FIFA World Cup in 2022 in Qatar.

“We thought that what happened in Qatar only needed the word ‘the end’ at the end, like in the movies, but no. It seems that it wants to move on.”

Messi will look to carry the good show for Gerardo Martino’s team. The Herons will play in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals against Charlotte FC on Friday.