Back in 2020, when FC Barcelona signed Sergino Dest, their iconic right-back Dani Alves was asked what kind of advice he would give to the young USMNT star to succeed, considering he was Dest’s idol. Interestingly enough, Alves had just one simple piece of advice for him: “Pass the ball to Lionel Messi!”

Yep, that’s all.

Hearing this, two things are pretty evident: Lionel and Messi. The rest is self-explanatory. That’s the kind of impact the Argentinian superstar holds. And it’s all because of the “Majesterial” things he does on the pitch, one of which he pulled off for Inter Miami during a regular-season clash against LA Galaxy. Does a viral backheel assist to his teammate, Luis Suárez, ring any bells?

Believe it or not, scientists still haven’t figured out certain phenomena, and this assist might just be one of them. And as one wouldn’t expect a magician to reveal the secrets behind his tricks, there’s the humblest of all Messi, who didn’t shy away from opening up about the pass that once again made him a talking sensation. Don’t thank us, but rather Fabrizio Romano.

The Italian journalist recently sat down with the 8x Ballon d’Or winner for a brief interview, where the viral moment was finally addressed. When asked how producing such an assist was even possible, Messi replied, “I saw Luis making the run, and it’s also about our understanding. So many years playing together, knowing each other’s movements by heart. After sharing so many matches, I practically know his runs by memory.”

Yep, that’s all.

This is all Lionel Messi had to say while describing what many have called one of the greatest assists of all time. Just imagine: a player coming off the bench after two weeks out, meant to play 45 minutes simply to ease back into rhythm from a tough injury. Next thing you know, with his team’s narrow lead slipping away, he’s dragging them back into control, first with a trademark goal, then with a moment of pure magic.

After receiving a pass from Rodrigo De Paul, and with a defender breathing down his neck, Messi, by already shielding the ball, decided not to turn or play it safe. Instead, he produced that audacious backheel, without even looking, and with his weaker right foot. That’s Leo Messi for you, ladies and gentlemen.

Then, of course, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen him redefine the meaning of genius. The only thing fans would love to see now is Messi carrying this kind of form into the upcoming crucial challenge for Inter Miami.

Can Lionel Messi help Inter Miami with yet another ordeal?

Unlike last season, Inter Miami failed to secure the MLS Shield title this year, finishing third in the Eastern Conference with a tally of 64 points. But luckily, they did manage to qualify for the playoffs. Having begun their conference quarterfinal journey, which requires the best of three matches to qualify for the next round, their first match against Nashville SC ended in a 3-1 win, courtesy of a brace from Lionel Messi. However, the second one backfired, resulting in a 1-2 defeat.

This only means they now need nothing less than a win in their final game against Nashville to progress to the next round. Unfortunately, failure to do so would result in an Inter Miami 2.0 upset. Last season, they found themselves in a similar situation, where after winning and losing one game each, they lost the final decider, resulting in elimination. Hence, one would only hope to see Javier Mascherano’s side give their all in this crucial game. More importantly, all eyes will be on their frontman, as Lionel Messi will be expected to produce his trademark magic once again to save Inter Miami.