Lionel Messi was given a hero's welcome on Sunday, as he was introduced to 20,000 fans by David Beckham and Co. Messi's next chapter isn't an MLS fixture but an inaugural Leagues Cup encounter against Mexican opposition. Check out our Lionel Messi Leagues Cup picks for Friday's Cruz Azul vs. Inter Miami matchup.
It's new territory for Messi and every MLS franchise this weekend, as the first-ever Leagues Cup campaign kicks off. It's a month-long competition involving all 47 MLS and Liga MX teams. Never before has CONCACAF sanctioned a two-league tournament like this. The format is like the World Cup, and we all know how Messi fared in the last one of those.
Inter Miami are in terrible form, winless in 11 matches. Cruz Azul aren't much better, with a 100% losing record in their fledgling Liga MX campaign. The Mexican side are bottom of thei r league. With an xGA of 1.59 goals per match, can Lionel Messi exploit Cruz Azul's defense and fire Miami to victory?
Here is our best Lionel Messi Leagues Cup pick for Friday's Cruz Azul vs. Inter Miami matchup (odds via our best sports betting apps; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Lionel Messi Leagues Cup pick: Cruz Azul vs. Inter Miami
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If Lionel Messi could choose the perfect opponent to face on his debut, Cruz Azul would be up there. Across their opening three Liga MX games this season they've conceded six goals. They're the only team in Mexico's top division without a single point.
Messi will be keen to put o n a show, with the eyes of the world on him. Despite recently turning 36, he's far from past it. The Argentinean is coming off a season at PSG where he was the only player in Europe's top five leagues to score 20-plus goals and provide 20-plus assists in all competitions.
Messi was directly involved in 41 goals in 41 games in all competitions in the 2022-23 season, which was the sixth most of any player in Europe's top five leagues. We're backing an elite goal scorer with a point to prove against a poor defense. Since records began, only Cristiano Ronaldo (838) has scored more goals in professional soccer than Messi (807). That tally may soon be 808.
Lionel Messi best odds
| DraftKings | FanDuel | BetMGM | Caesars | PointsBet |
| Messi anytime scorer | Messi anytime scorer | Messi anytime scorer | Messi anytime scorer | Messi anytime scorer |
| +100 | +110 | +115 | N/A | N/A |
Only three of our best sports betting sites offer a price on any Messi contributions in this game.
Caesars has no plays for Leagues Cup matchups. This might be a result of the competition being so new. DraftKings was the only book with goalscorer bets at the start of the week. FanDuel and BetMGM were a day or two behind.
Considering the opposition, +115 is good value for a debut goal from arguably the greatest player to have ever played the sport. Cruz Azul can't keep clean sheets and currently they only know how to lose.
DraftKings does have other plays for Messi, such as +350 odds to outscore the opposition, +125 to score with his golden left foot, and -225 to score or assist. Messi is +650 at FanDuel to score two or more goals in this match.
Don't underestimat e how good of a matchup this is for Messi's debut. The only reason this play isn't four stars is because we don't know how many minutes he's going to play, and two-thirds of the goals Cruz Azul have conceded in Liga MX this season have come in the second half.
Cruz Azul vs. Inter Miami game info
- Date: Friday, July 21, 8 p.m. ET
- TV: Apple TV
- Location: DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Weather: 84 degrees, 14% chance of precipitation, 7-mph winds
Lionel Messi Leagues Cup pick made 07/20/2023 at 3:30 a.m. ET.
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