FOLLOW US

Football legend Lionel Messi made a dazzling debut for Inter Miami, living up to the hype and more. The highly anticipated match, one of the most eagerly awaited U.S. sporting events in recent memory, didn't disappoint fans.

The Magic Moment

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner and World Cup champion Lionel Messi, marked his entry by scoring one of his signature free kicks during second-half stoppage time. The moment was part of a victorious Leagues Cup opener against Cruz Azul, where Inter Miami triumphed 2-1.

In a thrilling moment at 9:26 p.m. ET, Messi finished his warm-up in front of the packed stands at DRV PNK Stadium, donned his pink jersey, and replaced 18-year-old midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi at the halfway line in the 54th minute.

The fans, having only seen Messi on the bench before this, erupted with excitement. It was Messi's magical touch past the 90-minute mark that created history and stole the show.

Messi’s Winning Free Kick

In the game's dying moments, Cruz Azul committed a foul 25 yards out with just five seconds left in the two-minute extra time. The tension in the stadium was palpable as everyone knew what Messi could do next. The Argentine football star didn't disappoint, curling the free kick into the top corner with his legendary left foot and sending the 21,000-strong crowd into a frenzy.

Reflecting on the game, Messi said to Apple TV, "It was a very good game for us. We were looking for a match like this one and to give a win to these fans. I want to thank all these people. They are making me feel very welcomed here so I'm very happy to give this victory back to them."

Despite having the worst record in MLS, Miami was off to a perfect start in its new era, thanks to Messi's goal.

The Buzz Around Messi’s Debut

Every movement of Messi was met with feverish anticipation by the fans. When he skilfully outwitted Cruz Azul's defenders in the 67th minute, the resulting cheer from the crowd could have outdone the noise of any jet departing from the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport nearby.

Co-owner of Inter Miami, David Beckham, expressed his pride, stating, "It's such a moment for this country. It's such a moment for the league. And it's a very proud moment for us."

In a fitting response to those suggesting his move to South Beach was just an end-of-career vacation, Messi's debut performance was an emphatic statement of intent.