Reaction of Serena Williams, Kim Kardashian and David Beckham after Messi scored goal via free kick in MLS debut against Cruz Azul.
Having signed the two and a half year contract with the MLS club on Sunday, the Argentinian superstar, who won the FIFA World Cup only months ago and lifted the Ballon d’Or a record seven times in his illustrious career, made his much-awaited debut for Inter Miami on Friday where he was also handed the captain’s armband in stepping onto the field in the 54th minute of the match.
10 minutes into his debut and Mexican visitors struck in the equaliser before Messi found scattered chances. But he reserved his best for the last. Earning a foul himself about seven yards beyond the penalty area, Messi delivered a masterpiece as he struck a left-footed free kick that sailed over the defensive wall, past the diving goalkeeper Andres Gudino before hitting the top left corner of the net.
Friday night’s Inter Miami-Cruz Azul match was setting up for a photo finish. All it needed was a sorcerer to unleash the fury of the Vice City crowd.
Enter Lionel Messi. The delicate dribbler drove into a sea of limbs to earn a free kick deep in stoppage time.
He stepped to the spot composed as ever, undaunted by the tempest of pink-clad supporters. The excitement started 54 minutes into the Friday night match.
Inter Miami fans had spent the entire first half of the game waiting for Messi to appear. The wait and the $1,300 tickets were worth it when Messi subbed in early in the second half.
Then, euphoria: Messi curled his effort into the top corner, giving his new club the 2-1 win over their Mexican counterparts in the Leagues Cup.
It was a timid debut up to that point for the Argentinian icon, who had a few sumptuous touches after being substituted on in the 57th minute. The ending to the match was exactly the kind of clutch play fans expected of Messi when they tuned in from around the world to watch the international superstar’s Miami debut.
Messi recorded his first two MLS shots off assists from none other than Sergio Busquets, who subbed in for his MLS debut alongside Messi in the 54th minute.
Messi spent 13 years playing alongside Busquets in Barcelona.
