If Lionel Messi was fazed by the subzero temperatures in Kansas City, he didn’t show it. In one of the coldest matches of his career, the Argentine delivered yet another moment of magic, leading inter Miamito to a 1-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Wednesday night.
With the thermometer hovering around 3°F (-16°C) at kickoff, both teams had to battle more than just their opponents. The icy field and the biting wind made for difficult conditions, but the atmosphere at Children’s Mercy Park was anything but cold. The 15,000-plus fans packed into the stadium roared their support, willing their team to hold firm against a star-studded Miami side.
MESSI WITH AN OUTRAGEOUS TOUCH AND WEAK FOOT FINISH TO PUT INTER MIAMI AHEAD IN THE FIRST LEG 😳
(via @FOXSoccer)pic.twitter.com/W034QaF49C
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 20, 2025
In the 56th minute, Sergio Busquets, his longtime partner-in-crime, spotted Messi making a run inside the box and sent a delicate lobbed pass into his path. With the kind of control that only he possesses, Messi brought the ball down effortlessly, took a touch to shake off his marker, and then, with his weaker right foot, curled a precise shot past John Pulskamp and into the far corner.
Messi’s moment of brilliance puts Miami in control
The goal was vintage Messi-graceful, clinical, and perfectly timed. It also gave Inter Miami a crucial advantage, especially with the away-goal rule in effect. For new head coach Javier Mascherano, the win marked an ideal start to his tenure, adding confidence ahead of their MLS opener against New York City FC.
Marca Report.
