In his debut match for Major League Soccer, Lionel Messi showcased his unparalleled skills with a moment of brilliance that secured a memorable victory for Inter Miami. Messi’s dazzling goal in the 89th minute helped his team end an 11-match winless streak against the New York Red Bulls.
“I find myself captivated by watching him instead of focusing on my own assignment,” admitted Miami defender Kamal Miller. “It’s difficult to maintain concentration when you have such an extraordinary presence on the field.”
Messi entered the game in the 60th minute alongside former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets. Prior to Messi’s heroics, Diego Gómez had given Miami the lead in the 37th minute, assisted by another Barcelona alum, Jordi Alba. This match also marked the MLS debuts for six of Miami’s players.
Fans began chanting “We Want Messi!” as early as the sixth minute, creating an electric atmosphere that intensified with loud chants of “Mes-si!” in the 35th minute.
Miami right back DeAndre Yedlin acknowledged the fans’ anticipation, saying, “When we learned that he wouldn’t be starting, I expected a few disgruntled fans. But as a kid or a fan, I would also want to see the greatest player to ever grace the game, so I can’t blame them.”
Forty-eight years after Pelé’s arrival in the North American Soccer League’s New York Cosmos, which aimed to boost soccer’s popularity in the United States, Messi followed in the footsteps of David Beckham, Thierry Henry, and Zlatan Ibrahimović to enhance the appeal of MLS alongside the more popular U.S. leagues.
The streets surrounding the stadium were filled with fans, scalpers, and vendors selling unlicensed Messi jerseys, demonstrating the enormous excitement surrounding Messi’s debut. Approximately half of the fans wore jerseys representing Messi’s three clubs and Argentina’s national team. The game even had a simulcast on a videoboard in Times Square.
A record-breaking crowd of 26,276 spectators packed Red Bull Arena, marking the Red Bulls’ first sold-out home game of the season. Resale tickets were listed for over $1,000 leading up to the match.
“It’s truly surreal to witness. He’s probably the only man in the world who commands that level of respect and reception wherever he goes,” remarked Miller.
The fans erupted with cheers when Messi began his warm-up in the second half, and the roar intensified when coach Tata Martino signaled for him to join the action.
Alongside Busquets and Alba, Messi truly stood out on the field. “Their understanding of the game is instinctual,” Miller said. “They don’t even need to think about where their teammates will be. They already know where they want the ball.”
Although Messi failed to score in his La Liga and Ligue 1 debuts, anticipation was high when he lined up for a free kick in the 88th minute. However, the defensive wall blocked the shot.
Nevertheless, Miami maintained control in midfield, and Busquets delivered a cross to Alba just inside the penalty area. Alba, with his back to the ground and left leg raised, cleverly redirected the ball to Messi using the side of his foot. The 36-year-old star controlled the pass to evade defender Peter Stroud, dribbled towards the right, and skillfully threaded a pass between Andrés Reyes and Daniel Edelman to 18-year-old American Benjamin Cremaschi.
With goalkeeper Carlos Coronel covering his near post, Cremaschi outmaneuvered defender John Tolkin and swiftly returned the ball to Messi. The Argentine maestro sprinted towards the goal and expertly struck the ball with his left foot, leading it to bounce into the unguarded net from 3 yards. This remarkable goal marked Messi’s 11th goal in nine games for Miami across all competitions.
Martino expressed a lack of surprise at Messi’s performance, saying, “Nothing surprises me anymore from him.”
Although MLS requires players to speak to the media after games, Messi did not address reporters on this occasion.
Messi had previously played for Miami in the Leagues Cup on July 21, where he scored an impressive 10 goals in seven games. He also made his mark in the U.S. Open Cup semifinal.
Miami’s victory over the Red Bulls ended their winless streak in the league since their triumph against New England on May 13. Prior to this win, Miami had only secured one victory on the road, which occurred on April 29 against Columbus. On the other hand, New York’s record fell to 7 wins, 10 losses, and 8 draws.
Miami took the lead when Alba executed a free kick following a foul by Reyes. The ball was punched out by goalkeeper Coronel, and Robert Taylor played it wide to Noah Allen. The 19-year-old defender then delivered a diagonal pass to Gómez, who settled the ball with a touch and fired a left-footed shot into the far post from approximately 14 yards.
Fans eagerly hoped that Miami would build on their lead and give Messi more opportunities to mesmerize on the field. Even his teammates are in awe of his play. Yedlin commented, “It surprises me, and yet it doesn’t. It’s simply unbelievable to witness, although I’ve seen it before.”
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