Lionel Messi picks up where he left off ahead of the 2025 MLS season opener, showcasing his exceptional talent once again. On Wednesday, the reigning MLS Most Valuable Player made a significant impact for Inter Miami, scoring the sole goal in a chilly Kansas City, leading the Herons to a 1-0 victory over Sporting KC in the first leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup series.
Just three days before the highly anticipated start of the new U.S. and Canadian league season, Messi took center stage in this opening competitive match for both teams. He had previously helped Miami achieve a record-breaking regular season in 2024, netting 20 goals in 19 appearances. On Wednesday, he found the back of the net in the 56th minute, breaking a tense scoreless deadlock.
The match faced a 24-hour delay due to dangerously cold winter weather conditions sweeping through the Midwest. Despite the extreme chill, with temperatures at kickoff plummeting to 5 degrees Fahrenheit, the game went ahead as scheduled.
Amid speculation that the 37-year-old Argentine World Cup champion might opt out due to the frigid temperatures, both Messi and his former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets played the entire 90 minutes. Coach Javier Mascherano made a tactical substitution, replacing 38-year-old Luis Suárez shortly before the match concluded.
Missing from the lineup was Jordi Alba, another Barcelona veteran, who sat out due to a minor injury, alongside Inter’s starting goalkeeper, Drake Calendar.
Looking ahead, Miami is set to host Eastern Conference rival New York City FC in their MLS regular season opener this Saturday. Just three days later, on February 25, the Herons will face Sporting KC again in the crucial second leg of the Champions Cup at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
