Lionel Messi finally made his debut with his new Major League Soccer team, Inter Miami, and he did it with the kind of flair that only the best player in the world could muster. It was one of the most spectacular pairings that we have witnessed in quite some time. This year, the Leagues Cup, which is a competition held annually between the MLS and Liga MX, has been extended to include all of the teams from both leagues.
Messi scored the game-winning goal in the last stages of the second half of the Leagues Cup encounter against the Mexican club Cruz Azul. He curled in a stunning free-kick effort from beyond the area to clinch the 2-1 victory for Inter Miami at the full DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Messi joined the game in the 54th minute with Inter Miami leading 1-0 and just a few months following claiming the World Cup with Argentina. The score was still the same. In the 65th minute, Cruz Azul scored to get the score even, which set the stage for Messi to score the game-winning goal.
Following a number of near misses, Messi scored the game-winning goal in the 94th minute to cap off his debut in a manner befitting a fairytale.
It was the last play of the game, and I wanted to score so we didn’t go to penalties. So it was very important for us to get this win because it’s a new tournament; this is going to give us confidence moving forward, said Messi.
In the stands to observe the seven-time winner of the Ballon d’Or were celebrities like David Beckham, tennis champion Serena Williams, NBA sensation LeBron James, and reality television icon Kim Kardashian.
The next encounter for Inter Miami will take place on Tuesday at home, and it will be a group stage match for the Leagues Cup versus MLS team Atlanta United.
Earl Berg is a seasoned technology writer at Digital Overload, bringing over 10 years of experience in the tech industry to his role. Earl’s passion for technology and his knack for translating complex tech concepts into understandable language make his articles a favorite among readers. His coverage spans a wide range of tech topics, from gadget reviews and software updates to innovative breakthroughs in the tech industry. Earl is dedicated to providing his readers with honest, unique, and insightful content, always with an objective and open-minded approach. When he’s not immersed in the tech world, Earl enjoys hiking and photography.