Lionel Messi pulls out iconic celebration of Stephen Curry after scoring goal for Inter Miami

After missing time due to injury, Lionel Messi returned to the field on Saturday night and scored his 13th and 14th goals in Major League Soccer while also dishing out his 14th assist. Inter Miami recovered an early deficit to defeat the Philadelphia Union 3-1. Among the greatest in basketball, Stephen Curry's "Night, Night" celebration has been applied to other sports. It was utilized by Lionel Messi to celebrate a goal during Inter Miami's win over the Philadelphia Union on Saturday night at Chase Stadium.

Luis Suarez scored his team's 17th goal in stoppage time in the second half to keep Miami ahead in the Supporters' Shield competition and to fall two goals behind Christian Benteke of D.C. for the MLS Golden Boot. Jordi Alba assisted Messi on his goals with his eleventh and twelfth assists on a night when Miami (19-4-5, 62 points) became the first team to reach the 60-point mark.

Despite playing nine of the previous ten games without Messi, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, Drake Callender made seven stops in the Herons' fifth straight victory and ninth overall. The Union, who started the evening in 11th position in the Eastern Conference and two points behind the playoff line, took the lead early on thanks to a goal from Mikael Uhre.

Lionel Messi 🤝 Stephen Curry



Messi said good night after his brace against Philadelphia Union 💤😤 pic.twitter.com/jY0kasF891

— Golazo America (@GolazoAmerica) September 15, 2024

Though it was occasionally frustrated by Callender and other players because of its wastefulness, Philadelphia put forth a stronger effort than the final score suggested, defeating Miami 20-9 in shots and 8-4 in goal attempts. With his back to the goal, Suarez accepted Jordi Alba's entry pass in the 26th minute and with his first touch, placed the ball to his left. After accepting the layoff, Messi sidestepped Kai Wagner's tackle and beat Andrew Rick with a low shot.

Lionel Messi pulls out the celebration after scoring the second goal

After four minutes, Messi was the one to rush onto Alba's pass at the penalty spot and guide it in. Rick reached down to touch the ball, but he was unable to keep it out. In the thirty-first minute, he scored another one, utilizing Curry's "Night, Night" celebration to give Inter Miami the lead. Before Lionel Messi made his last contribution laying the ball off for Suarez to curl in the bottom left corner on Miami's last offensive play of the game the Dolphins withstood a great deal of pressure in the second half.