Leagues Cup: 'Best in the world' Lionel Messi leads Inter Miami to first trophy

Lionel Messi has won his first trophy with Inter Miami after scoring a stunner to guide his new team to Leagues Cup final glory against Nashville on Saturday night.

Messi scored a stunning goal to give Miami a 23rd-minute lead at Geodis Park, before Fafa Picault levelled for Nashville 12 minutes into the second half. The final was then decided on penalties, with Miami emerging victorious 10-9.

After Leonardo Campana missed a last-second chance to win the game in regulation for Miami, the game went to a shoot-out which ended in a duel between the two goalkeepers and Elliot Panicco's shot being saved by Miami's Drake Callender.

Messi and his teammates rushed to celebrate with the American goalkeeper, who had made some key saves late in the game to keep his team alive.

“It’s a huge honor to play a role in our first win in a final,” Callender said. "It’s pretty surreal. Very emotional. This team works so hard day-in, day-out to be able to perform like this on a night like this. And to have it come down to the very end, it was amazing to see the grit, just the belief of what we’re capable of. It’s something special and I’m just blessed to be a part of it.”

Miami, in their third season of existence, were rock bottom of Major League Soccer when Messi joined them a month ago but he has utterly transformed the team, leading them on an unbeaten run to the League Cup title.

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner has now scored 10 goals in seven games for his new club and on Wednesday has the chance to reach another final when his team take on Cincinnati in the semi-final of the US Open Cup.

This was not the dominant, entertaining Miami that in the past month has lit up the tournament, featuring MLS and Mexican Liga MX clubs, but the win