Lionel Messi Picks, Predictions & Odds: FC Dallas vs. Inter Miami

sportsbookreview.com

05 August 2023

Lionel Messi Picks, Predictions & Odds: FC Dallas vs. Inter Miami

Lionel Messi made history on Wednesday nightwhen he became the first Inter Miami player to score multiple goals inconsecutive games. He achieved this in his first two starts for the MLSfranchise. Check out our Lionel Messi Leagues Cup picks for Sunday's InterMiami vs. FC Dallas matchup.

Miami head coach Tata Martino said he’s running out ofsuperlatives for Messi after the Argentine scored another brace midweek.

Messi has six goal involvements in three games for his new team, scoring five times.He could have had a hat-trick against Orlando but instead allowed JosefMartinez to take the second-half penalty in the 3-1 win.

Miami are four wins away from lifting the LeaguesCup. Up next is FC Dallas in the Round of 16.

For their part, Dallas has a negative goaldifferential in MLS this season. Can Messi expose the defense and send his sideinto the last eight?

Here is our best Lionel Messi Leagues Cup pick for Sunday'sInter Miami vs. FC Dallas matchup (odds via our best sports betting apps; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-starscale).

Lionel Messi Leagues Cuppick: Inter Miami vs. FC Dallas

Lionel Messi to score insecond half (+160 via PointsBet) ⭐⭐⭐

Not intended for use in MA
Affiliate Disclosure: Sportsbook Review may receive advertising commissions forvisits to a sportsbook

Lionel Messi has made only two starts for Miami and is just one goal behind Minnesota United’s Bongokuhle Hlongwane (six) for thecompetition’s top scorer.

Next up for Messi is a Dallas defense that’s giving up 1.1goals per game in MLS this season. Dallas has also conceded on average a goal agame in the Leagues Cup.

This is Messi’s first road game for Miami, and FC Dallas arebetter at home than away. Six of their eight wins this season have come at ToyotaStadium. They’ve given up 10 goals in 11 home games in MLS. Dallas’ xGA at homeis 1.17 compared to 1.67 on the road.

Ahead of the Leagues Cup break, Dallas had conceded fourgoals in three MLS games. During his spell at PSG, Lionel Messiplayed 75 games in all competitions. He was decisive 66 times (32 goals, 34assists), as only Kylian Mbappé (107 times) was involved in more goals than himwith the club since his first game with the Parisiens. Some of those matcheswere against elite European opposition.

Messi played his first full game forMiami on Wednesday. The 36-year-old is proving his match fitness and is thefocal point of his team. He doesn’t have to do much running, and defenses arestruggling to mark him. Everything he’s touching is turning to gold. We have toback him to continue his form against a defense that has difficulty shuttingout offenses.

Dallas have a better first-halfshowing defensively than in the second half. Six of eleven goals conceded at homehave been given up in the second half this MLS season, and all oftheir goals conceded in the Leagues Cup have come in the second half. That’sthe specific period we’re targeting in our Messi prop. The numbers work for usand boost our profits.

Lionel Messi best odds

PointsBet (+160)

The best price for Messi as an anytime scorer is -120 viaPointsBet. Statistically, the favorable period for him to score against Dallasis after halftime. Our play has increased value at +160. If we’re backing himto score, we may as well target the time in the match when the analyticssuggest he’s most likely to do so. PointsBet is the only one of our best sportsbooks offering this prop.

As of Saturday morning, FanDuel is the only other bookamong our best sports betting sites to offer Messi scoring props. Its anytimescorer price for the Argentine is -155. Messi is +320 to score two-plus atFanDuel.

Messi has come up against stronger defenses than FCDallas'. Inter Miami have scored nine goals since he arrived. He and his formerBarcelona teammates are gelling nicely, which could be too much for Dallas onSunday, especially in the latter stages.