Lionel Messi wasted no time making a good first impression with his new club, burying a game-winning goal for Inter Miami. Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports Jul 21, 2023; Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA; Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) celebrates after scoring a goal against Cruz Azul during the second half at DRV PNK Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
FeaturedSoccerBy Michael Dixon on

As the saying goes, you only get one chance to make a first impression. Lionel Messi did not let that opportunity go to waste in his Inter Miami CF debut on Friday night.

Nearly four minutes into stoppage time in the second half, Miami was locked in a 1-1 tie in its Leagues Cup match against Mexico City’s Cruz Azul from Mexico’s Liga MX.

Miami drew a free kick and called on Messi, who did not start the match but was brought in as a sub. Messi didn’t let the opportunity go to waste, as he buried the kick past Cruz Azul’s diving goalkeeper, Andrés Gudiño, into the net for the match-winner.

 

Stars from other sports, like Patrick Mahomes, LeBron James and Jalen Brunson reacted to Messi’s last-second heroics.

Greatness recognizes greatness. But it wasn’t just other great athletes showering Messi with praise. Sports fans of all kinds were taken in by the electric moment.

He certainly had a flare for the dramatic.

Realistically, Inter Miami, MLS and Messi himself couldn’t have scripted a better debut than this. Messi just playing would have been good enough for a debut. Scoring a goal was great. But scoring a match-winning goal in the final seconds of a match? Debuts aren’t going to get much better than that.

And Messi certainly has a lot of people wondering now what he’ll have in store for an encore.

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