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.
