Lionel Messi, a forward for Inter Miami, declined to take a penalty during their 3-1 Leagues Cup victory because he didn’t think his team would win.
In just three games with his new MLS team, Messi has scored five goals.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner began alongside Josef Martinez, who has yet to score for the club since joining, in their match against Orlando.
Despite the fact that most fans at DRV PNK Stadium expected Messi to take the penalty kick from 12-yards out, Martinez instead opted to give the ball to the Venezuelan.
With Orlando City’s goalkeeper, Pedro Gallese, beaten, Martinez picked up the ball and calmly put it home.
But Messi finished the game with two goals.
While Messi is Inter’s designated penalty taker, the Argentine captain understood how much scoring a goal would mean to Martinez and the rest of the team, as reported by the UK Mirror.
