Lionel Messi’s time in Miami got off to an absolute storybook start on Friday, with the Argentine World Cup winner delivering a 94th-minute free kick goal to win the match.
It was expected that Messi would get around 30 minutes but he played more than that, entering in the 54th minute with his side leading 1-0.
And it didn’t take long for him to show just why his signing was so celebrated by Miami and MLS, as he buzzed around the pitch and wreaked havoc on the Cruz Azul defense.
The visitors would tie the game in the 65th minute, but there was ultimately too much time left for Messi’s heroics as the home side won at the death.
DeAndre Yedlin rolled the ball to Messi at the top of the box, before the Argentine was fouled roughly 20 yards out.
Lionel Messi gave Inter Miami a walk-off win with a stunning free kick in the 94th minute
It was a dream start to life in the USA for Messi, who buzzed around the pitch in a free role
Messi and Josef Martinez celebrate his game-winning goal in second-half stoppage time
It was always going to be him standing over the free kick, and he curled the ball into the top left hand corner to win the game in stunning fashion.
Messi and Sergio Busquets’ introductions in the second half came after Miami took the lead late in the first half through Robert Taylor.
The winger cut onto his right foot in the 44th minute and found the far post of the net, with the ball clanking off the woodwork and going in.
It took Inter Miami four years of planning and two years of actual pursuing to bring Messi to the club.
Messi quickly made an impact on the game as he buzzed around in a free role
Messi and Inter Miami will now face Atlanta in their next Leagues Cup game on Tuesday
‘Worth it,’ co-owner David Beckham said earlier in the week.
How right he was.
Nobody even left their seats when the halftime whistle blew.
The reason: Messi was on the field. He warmed up for about five minutes during intermission with the other reserves before they all left for the locker room.
Team officials said all tickets – about 21,000, in a newly expanded stadium – were sold. Messi arrived with the team about two hours before game time, dressed in the team colors – pink T-shirt, black shorts.
He stopped for a few photos and handshakes as he entered the tunnel leading to the locker room.
He got a hug and shared a few words with LeBron James – another guy who knows a thing or two about making a highly celebrated move to Miami, after he joined the Heat in 2010 and won his first two NBA titles in a four-year stay – on his way to the bench.
Messi arrived to the match at DRV PNK Stadium in a pink Inter Miami T-shirt
The Argentine began on the bench as expected, entering in the 54th minute
Messi took his seat and watched his new team, in the all-pink jersey, shorts and socks, start his new era.
Almost every seat was filled, many by people wearing newly acquired Miami jerseys with Messi’s name on the back. They chanted his name a few times, waved flags bearing his name and number.
And fans will have a chance to do it all over again next week.
Miami will face Atlanta on Tuesday in its next Leagues Cup game.
