WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 (silubaba) -- Inter Miami manager Gerardo Martino hailed Lionel Messi after the Argentine forward guided the Florida club to the Leagues Cup title on Sunday.
Messi's superb first-half strike was canceled out by Fafa Picault's header as Inter Miami and Nashville were locked at 1-1 after the final whistle.
The 36-year-old former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward then converted the first spot-kick of the penalty shootout, which Inter Miami won 10-9.
"I think that when you mention Leo you say that he is the best player in the world. There is no greater praise than that. And he does it game after game," said Martino, who was also Messi's manager at Barcelona and with Argentina's national team.
Despite sitting last in Major League Soccer's eastern conference, Inter Miami have won all seven of their matches since Messi arrived along with Martino in mid-July.
Messi has been in imperious form, scoring 10 goals from seven outings, including several that would not look out of place on his career highlights reel.
"Leo has said that he came to Miami to compete and to win, which is very important," Martino said. "[Sergi] Busquets and [Jordi] Alba said the same thing. Obviously somebody has to lose but this time they have won."
The Leagues Cup triumph - against rivals from the United States, Mexico and Canada - marks Inter Miami's first ever title.
It also makes Messi the most decorated player in football history with 44 trophies dating back to 2004.
Miami's next match will be an away US Open Cup fixture against Cincinnati on Wednesday, to be followed by a visit to New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer three days later.
"Somehow, I think we have greater clarity about what could happen in the future, having won this title 30 to 35 days after I started working at this club," Martino said.
"We are happy about what happened today, but unfortunately there is not much time to celebrate. On Wednesday we have another important game," he added. ■
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