Lionel Messi, the Argentine football star, made his presence felt during Inter Miami’s final pre-season match ahead of the 2024 MLS campaign. Despite being substituted in the 60th minute and replaced by 22-year-old American Lawson Sunderland, Messi managed to delight the home fans with his performance.
The 36-year-old striker, who played a pivotal role in helping Argentina clinch the 2022 World Cup title, had been sidelined due to a groin injury that forced him to sit out a friendly match in Hong Kong earlier in the month. However, he made a strong comeback, featuring in Miami’s starting 11 for the pre-season game after having made a substitute appearance in a match in Japan.
The match itself saw a stalemate in the first half, but Inter Miami managed to take the lead with a goal from Shanyder Borgelin in the 64th minute. The 22-year-old Haitian forward displayed his aerial prowess, rising above a defender to execute a perfect header from a corner kick delivered by a Finnish midfielder.
However, Newell’s team managed to equalize when Argentine midfielder Franco Martin Diaz scored a stunning goal in the 83rd minute, driving the ball into the bottom right corner from the heart of the box.
Looking ahead, Inter Miami is now gearing up to face Real Salt Lake in the MLS regular-season opener, which is scheduled for Wednesday. With Messi’s return and the team’s solid performance in the pre-season, there is palpable excitement and anticipation among fans for the upcoming campaign.
