Lionel Messi has formed an instant bond with Robert Taylor, just like everyone expected

With Messi in Miami, Taylor can’t be stopped

Lionel Messi came to MLS and found someone who understands exactly what he’s thinking.

Sergio Busquets? Inter Miami debutant Jordi Alba? Be serious, folks. We’re of course talking about Robert Taylor.

Messi and his favorite Finn of all time did it again, linking up to open the scoring as Miami ran out 3-1 winners in a Leagues Cup battle with Orlando City.

After an hour-long delay for weather, it took just seven minutes for Messi to link up with the man that is apparently his favorite new target.

Taylor was previously seen as a tricky winger in MLS circles, but hardly a player to specifically game-plan for. He posted three goals and three assists on the left flank in 2022, a completely respectable haul on a middling side.

However, with Messi in the fold, the Finland winger is unstoppable. Taylor’s newfound confidence is resulting in him appearing in highlight clips the world over.

Just take Wednesday’s goal as an example: the expectation would be that Messi would be producing all the highlight-reel moments, and his Miami teammates just had to kick the ball into the goal. Not so for Taylor, who danced inside Kyle Smith before surprising Orlando with a clipped-in ball, setting an unmarked Messi up for an emphatic volley.

Since Messi’s arrival with the Herons, Taylor has been prolific, with this being his second assist to go with three goals in just three matches.

Messi and Taylor have connected on three goals, with each setting the other up to get on the scoreboard in a 4-0 rout of Atlanta United on July 25. Taylor hasn’t just been reliant on his connection with the Argentine legend, either. The winger scored with Messi still on the bench against Cruz Azul, and struck a second against Atlanta that was teed up by Benjamin Cremaschi instead.

Messi would bag another goal in the 72nd minute, and while Taylor didn’t get the direct assist, you’d have to say they connected again. Messi picked Taylor out on the break, and while the Finn’s cross from the left was over Messi, Josef Martínez was there to knock the ball down and set the global icon up for a point-blank finish.

Watch the Messi-Taylor connection do it again

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