Robert Lewandowski scores first Chicago Fire brace in his third game: How many matches did Lionel Messi need?

Robert Lewandowski lastly received off the mark in model for Chicago Fireplace, scoring his first MLS brace in his house debut at Soldier Area — his third match within the league. It’s a strong begin for the Polish striker, however nonetheless slower than the tempo Lionel Messi set when he first arrived in MLS, needing simply two matches to document his opening double for Inter Miami.

Lewandowski‘s transfer to Chicago was one of many greatest storylines of the summer time switch window. The Polish striker left Barcelona on a free switch, turning down presents from golf equipment throughout Europe to hitch the Fireplace, and defined upon his introduction that he couldn’t image himself enjoying for “any Euro group” after his spell at Barcelona.

After two video games with no objective, the breakthrough arrived on August 2. Lewandowski scored twice in entrance of the Chicago trustworthy, changing into simply the fourth participant in membership historical past to document a brace in his house debut. The 2 objectives additionally marked his first MLS tally of any sort, which means his opening objective and his first brace got here in the exact same match.

By comparability, Messi wanted far much less time to open his account for Inter Miami. After coming off the bench to attain a stoppage-time free kick towards Cruz Azul in his very first look, he was handed his first begin days later towards Atlanta United and wanted simply 22 minutes to attain twice.

Messi’s electrical begin at Inter Miami

Messi’s arrival may hardly have been extra completely different. The Argentine joined Inter Miami’s squad from Matchday 28 onward, which means he missed the primary half of the 2023 MLS season totally and was inserted straight into the ultimate stretch of the marketing campaign — but he wanted no time in any respect to make an impression.

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He debuted on July 21, 2023, coming off the bench towards Cruz Azul within the Leagues Cup and scoring a stoppage-time winner as Inter Miami got here from behind to win 2-1. 4 days later, on July 25, Messi received his first begin and delivered his first brace in Miami colours, scoring twice contained in the opening 22 minutes of a 4-0 win over Atlanta United.

He barely slowed down from there, including one other double on August 2 towards Orlando Metropolis and a 3rd on August 6 within the penalty-shootout win over FC Dallas within the Spherical of 16.

Later, he scored additional objectives within the quarterfinal win over Charlotte, the semifinal victory at Philadelphia and the ultimate towards Nashville SC, which Inter Miami received on penalties to raise the trophy. Messi completed the match with 10 objectives in seven appearances, all earlier than he had even made his MLS regular-season debut.

That debut got here on August 26 towards the New York Crimson Bulls, the place he scored once more in a 2-0 win away from house, and simply over per week later, on September 3, he struck twice in a 3-1 win at LAFC for his first brace in MLS regular-season play — a tempo of manufacturing Lewandowski remains to be working to match at Chicago Fireplace.