In the last seconds of Inter Miami’s debut, Lionel Messi scores the game-winning free kick

As Inter Miami defeated Cruz Azul 2-1 in the Leagues Cup competition, Lionel Messi scored in his Inter Miami debut in the last seconds of stoppage time. According to team officials, all 21,000 seats in the recently enlarged stadium were sold.

When Messi entered the Leagues Cup match as a 54th-minute replacement, he had the opportunity to make the ideal debut when he earned a free-kick on the outside of the box and curled the game-winning goal into the top corner.

Robert Taylor scored the first Inter Miami goal of the Messi era late in the first half. Taylor received a long ball from Robbie Robinson, went into the area, and sent a low shot that bounced against the inside of the far post and into the goal for a 1-0 lead.

Messi sprang up from his chair, flung his hands in the air, cheered loudly, and smiled widely.

Both Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets, who just joined the Major League Soccer squad, and Argentine superstar Messi were selected as replacements for the Leagues Cup game.

World Cup champion and seven-time winner of the Ballon d’Or When Messi joined Miami after his deal with Paris Saint-Germain expired in June, he became the greatest star signing in MLS history.

The sold-out 20,000 spectators included celebrities LeBron James, Kim Kardashian, and Serena Williams. Many of the supporters wore pink Miami jerseys with Messi’s name and number 10 on the back.

NBA great James, who now plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, previously won two NBA championships with the Miami Heat, when he also hugged Messi before to the match.

Messi’s former Barcelona and Argentine national team coach, Gerardo Martino, of Miami, had said that the star may not be ready to play a complete game yet after just returning to practice this week after his family vacation.