Lionel Messi had his much-anticipated first match with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, and he amazed everyone with his incredible skills, proving why he’s considered the best player in the world.
In the Leagues Cup match against Cruz Azul, the Mexican team, Lionel Messi scored the game-winning goal in the final moments of the second half. He made a fantastic free-kick from outside the box, sealing a 2-1 victory for Inter Miami at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which was full of enthusiastic fans.
Messi explained on the Apple TV broadcast after the game, “I saw the goal, and I knew I had to score. It was the last play of the game, and I wanted to avoid penalties. This win is important for us because it’s a new tournament, and it will give us confidence for the future.”
This year, the Leagues Cup was made bigger by including all the teams from both MLS and Liga MX. It’s an annual tournament where teams from these two leagues compete against each other.
After leading Argentina to victory in the World Cup, Messi joined the match in the 54th minute when Inter Miami was ahead 1-0. However, Cruz Azul scored an equalizer in the 65th minute, setting the stage for Messi’s game-winning heroics.
After many near misses, Messi finally scored in the 94th minute, making his debut even more like a fairytale ending.
Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham expressed his thoughts on the Apple TV broadcast after the game, saying, “As soon as I saw the free kick awarded, I knew this was the perfect way to win, especially when you have players like Leo and Sergio (Busquets) on the field.”
“This is an incredibly special night for us, for our family, and for everyone present in this stadium. It’s a significant moment for our country, for this league, and we are very proud of it.”
The stadium was packed with famous people who came to see the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, like Beckham, NBA superstar LeBron James, tennis champion Serena Williams, and Kim Kardashian.
Inter Miami’s next match is at home against Atlanta United, an MLS team, on Tuesday in a Leagues Cup group stage fixture.