Lionel Messi has been labelled as a 'savage' and a 'mad man' after dinking the ball over an injured defender.

The 36-year-old starred as Inter Miami eased to a 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake in the 2024 MLS season opener.

But it was an outrageous piece of skill from the 2022 World Cup winner that has sent social media into meltdown.

Having provided the assist for Robert Taylor's opener, Messi almost doubled the hosts' lead in the 44th minute where he used RSL defender Andrew Brody as an obstacle.

Messi took advantage of a mix-up at the back, where he glided past Brayan Vera before coming up against Brody, who was on his back with an apparent wrist injury.

But he proved to be no problem for the Barcelona legend, as he chipped the ball over him, before seeing his shot blocked by Emeka Eneli.