After weeks of anticipation, Lionel Messi announced himself to the MLS and American audiences in a way that only he could last night, leaving a host of America's most famous sports stars and celebrities in absolute awe.
The Argentine superstar formally signed with David Beckham's MLS franchise Inter Miami last week, delivering in dramatic fashion during his first appearance.
With only minutes left on the clock in Inter Miami's League Cup game against Cruz Azul, it looked certain that the game was headed for a draw. However, in a last-ditch 93rd-minute free kick, Messi proved his worth and stuck an outstanding goal into the top left corner, sealing a 2-1 win for Miami.
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LIONEL ANDRÉS MESSI IS NOT HUMAN. pic.twitter.com/2mBDI41mLy
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 22, 2023
American superstars go wild for Lionel Messi brilliance
While on this side of the world, Messi's brilliance is a given, not a surprise, the same can't be said for America where he is already by far the greatest football star to grace the MLS.
However, there was only one show in town this weekend as the who's who of American stardom flocked to Miami to see Messi in action. From Kim Kardashian to some of sport's most recognisable names in LeBron James and Serena Williams, nobody wanted to miss the much-anticipated debut, with their reactions making it very clue who they were getting behind.
Serena Williams, David Beckham and Kim Kardashian's reaction to Lionel Messi last minute goal 🔥🤯pic.twitter.com/poeD5xZL8X
— TM (@TotalLeoMessi) July 22, 2023
🐐s taking photos of a 🐐 pic.twitter.com/Dm9EPbhj71
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 22, 2023
While Williams, LeBron and the Kardashians may have been in Miami to see it, Messi's antics clearly went nationwide as some of America's biggest athletes took to Twitter to applaud what the now Miami star was doing:
INCREDIBLE!!!! 🐐 https://t.co/fEhhXSZRAx
— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 22, 2023
Wild man! 🐐 https://t.co/4vVqasRreh
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) July 22, 2023
— Darius Butler (@DariusJButler) July 22, 2023
Whatever about Messi's scarcely believable abilities, one thing is abundantly clear - his presence in MLS is doing wonders for the league's publicity and attracting the biggest of superstars to the games in true American fashion.
From the 'courtside' style seats in Miami to the names at the game Messi's debut was certainly stamped with all the hallmarks of American sport.
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