In an emotionally charged friendly match, Inter Miami, led by superstar Lionel Messi, faced off against Messi's Argentine boyhood club, Newell's Old Boys, resulting in a 1-1 draw. Messi, who had supported Old Boys in his youth and played for them from 1995 to 2000 before his iconic tenure at Barcelona, returned to Miami's starting lineup for the match. However, in the 60th minute, Messi was substituted out, making way for 22-year-old American Lawson Sunderland, much to the delight of the home fans. Despite his early departure, Messi's presence on the field stirred excitement among supporters as Inter Miami gears up for the start of the 2024 MLS campaign next week.
Making his return after recovering from a groin injury that sidelined him for a friendly in Hong Kong, Messi's inclusion in the starting 11 was eagerly anticipated. Although the first half remained scoreless, Inter Miami took the lead in the 64th minute through a goal by Shanyder Borgelin, who expertly headed in a corner kick delivered by Finnish midfielder Robert Taylor.
However, Newell's Old Boys fought back and managed to equalize in the 83rd minute with a powerful strike from Argentine midfielder Franco Martin Diaz. Despite the draw, both teams displayed a competitive spirit, setting the stage for an exciting start to the MLS season.
Also Read: India Dominates Day 1: Scores 326/5 against England in Rajkot Test
Looking ahead, Inter Miami is set to kick off their MLS campaign with a home match against Real Salt Lake on Wednesday. With Messi's return to the fold and promising performances from emerging talents, Inter Miami fans have much to anticipate as the season unfolds.
