(Reuters) – Lionel Messi made his highly anticipated debut for Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami on Friday, scoring a stoppage-time winner to secure a 2-1 victory against Liga MX’s Cruz Azul in their Leagues Cup opener in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
In the dying seconds of the game, Messi drew a foul about 25 yards from goal and confidently converted the resulting free kick, sending the ball sailing into the top left corner and igniting the crowd with excitement.
After scoring the goal, Messi celebrated by running towards the right corner of the field with his arms spread wide, before heading to the sidelines on the other side to embrace his family.
“I knew I had to score, it was the last play of the game and I had to score so we wouldn’t go to penalties,” Messi stated through a translator during the broadcast.
“Getting this win was crucial for us in this new tournament. It will boost our confidence moving forward.”
The sold-out crowd, which included four-times NBA champion LeBron James, tennis great Serena Williams, and reality television star Kim Kardashian, welcomed Messi onto the pitch as a second-half substitute with Miami leading 1-0.
When Messi entered the game in the 54th minute, he was introduced as “the world’s number 10,” donning the captain’s armband on his left arm. Every touch of the ball from the seven-times Ballon d’Or winner sent the crowd into a frenzied roar.
Messi quickly displayed his skills by evading Cruz Azul defenders and orchestrating numerous attacks down the right side, creating several scoring opportunities throughout the match.
At one point, Messi collided with a Cruz Azul player in the box, resulting in a fall. His team and supporters appealed for a penalty, but the referee promptly waved off the claims, denying the Argentine a chance to score from the spot.
In the 89th minute, Messi set up what seemed to be the winning goal, but it was disallowed as Martinez, who tapped the ball into the net, was ruled offside.
However, Messi, who led Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar just seven months ago, had his moment to shine.
“As soon as I saw the free kick given, I thought this is the way it’s meant to end,” said Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham. “Seeing Leo step onto the pitch and perform the way he has is incredibly exciting for our fans. It’s a dream come true for everyone here.”
Messi’s Miami debut coincidentally took place 16 years after Beckham played his first game for LA Galaxy in MLS.
The arrival of Messi in South Florida has created a wave of euphoria, with restaurants offering food and drink options named after him and murals depicting his likeness popping up all over Miami.
It has been a whirlwind week for Messi, whose move to MLS has significantly elevated the profile of soccer in the United States, especially as it prepares to co-host the 2026 World Cup with Mexico and Canada.
Messi’s official 2-1/2 year contract with Miami was announced last Saturday. The following day, he was introduced to the club’s supporters at a glamorous welcome party, and on Tuesday, he participated in his first full training session with the team.
Inter Miami will conclude the two-game group stage on Tuesday, hosting Atlanta United with hopes of advancing to the knockout stages of the Leagues Cup, a World Cup-style tournament featuring all teams from MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX.
