Messi lights up Times Square! Soccer fans celebrate the World Cup winner’s goal on his MLS debut in the heart of the Big Apple while Inter Miami’s win over the New York Red Bulls is broadcast live
- Lionel Messi’s league debut was broadcast live on a billboard in Times Square
- The Argentine came on as a substitute in his MLS debut for Inter Miami and scored a goal
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Football fans gathered in Times Square on Saturday night to witness one of the most anticipated games in MLS history.
Lionel Messi’s league debut was broadcast live on one of the many billboards that lit up the heart of New York City.
Viewers had to wait as Tata Martino decided to give his global superstar a break and benched him for Inter Miami’s game against the New York Red Bulls.
However, the World Cup winner made one of New York’s most iconic spots shine even more when he made his official debut and came on in the 60th minute.
And despite playing for city rivals, the Argentinean upset the Big Apple when he scored a stunning goal in the 89th minute.
Football fans gathered in Times Square on Saturday night to witness Lionel Messi’s MLS debut
Messi delivered another performance for Inter Miami in Saturday’s 2-0 win against the New York Red Bulls
Fans thronged the pitch, some wearing football shirts – with and without his name on the back – and erupted in cheers as Messi slotted the ball into the net.
Messi scored with the help of two former Barcelona teammates.
Jordi Alba made an acrobatic leap following a Sergio Busquets cross and with his back to the ground and left leg raised, Busquets used the side of his foot to center the ball towards Messi.
The 36-year-old star settled the ball to keep it in front of defender Peter Stroud, dribbled to the right and directed a pass between Andrés Reyes and Daniel Edelman to 18-year-old American Benjamin Cremaschi.
When goalkeeper Carlos Coronel moved to cover the near post, Cremaschi beat defender John Tolkin and played the ball straight back to Messi.
The World Cup winner scored on his MLS debut on Saturday night, doubling Miami’s lead
MLS and Red Bulls announced the Times Square show on social media
He sprinted for goal and ricocheted off his left foot from ten yards into the unguarded net, earning his 11th goal in nine all-competition games for Miami.
The game drew a record crowd of 26,276 spectators to the Red Bull Arena, making it the Red Bulls’ first sold-out home game of the season. In the week leading up to the game, resale tickets were offered for over $1,000.
But viewership at the game wasn’t limited to Harrison, New Jersey, as fans who couldn’t get a ticket opted for a cheaper option; Watch the Messi show for free amidst the glitz and glamor of Broadway.
MLS and Red Bulls had announced the broadcast in Times Square on social media, with Messi on the billboard and the caption: “A massive MLS match requires a huge screen.”