Lionel Messi got his American debut to a flying start after he came off the bench to score what turned out to be the winner for his new Major League Soccer (MLS) Inter Miami in a 2-1 League Cup victory over Liga MX team Cruz Azul on Friday night.
In the fixture at DRV PNK Stadium, the Argentinian superstar curled a sensational strike into the top corner which left co-owner David Beckham visibly emotional. Messi’s moment of magic arrived after he won a free-kick outside the box in the dying seconds. With the eyes of the world on him, he stepped up and delivered like he has done on so many occasions around the world to mark a dream start to life in America.
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“What I saw was the goal. I saw the goal, I knew I had to score. It was the last play of the game, and I wanted to score so we didn’t go to penalties,” Messi told Apple TV after the game, adding: “It was very important for us to get this win because in the tournament it’s going to give us confidence moving forward.”
Messi was introduced alongside fellow new signing Sergio Busquets in the 51st minute with Inter Miami leading 1-0 courtesy of a 44th-minute strike from Robert Taylor but they were pegged back when Cruz levelled matters in the 65th minute through Uriel Antuna.
What did Beckham say: “It’s terrible watching these games. As an ex-player, you get frustrated. As a player, you can do something about it if you’re losing, when you’re an owner, you can’t,” adding: “But tonight is about the people. It’s about this. This is what we always saw as our vision, me and Jorge and Jose and the club, this is what we saw.”
Messi and Inter Miami will be back in League Cup action on Tuesday when they host Atlanta United in their second group game at DRV PNK Stadium.