The Messi revolution started in Miami: he made his debut with a goal from a free kick in injury time

Someday Benjamín Cremaschi will tell his grandchildren that one night in the summer of 2023 he left the team he played for Messi to join. He will explain to them that he had the shirt with the number 30 on his back, that there were 8 minutes left in the second half and that when they crossed the cal line Leo hugged him. Cremaschi, offensive midfielder, 18 years old, is one of the actors in the cast of the show that was put together from Leo’s debut at Inter Miami. A show that from last night will be focused on each of the steps of the most famous Rosario.

The truth is that after Leo’s controversial spell at PSG, with boos and inexplicable whistles, the magic returned last night. And in a stadium in the United States.

Like any good show, there was no shortage of celebrities. Through the Drive Pink stadium there was a parade of characters to appear in a gallery of Caras magazine: friends Sergio Agüero and Maximiliano Rodríguez, businessman Marcelo Tinelli and an old glory from Barcelona, ​​​​the Bulgarian Hristo Stoichkov. And when there were minutes left before the game began, LeBron James, a legend of the NBA and Los Angeles Lakers, appeared.

Already in the preview, the Messi effect is evident in the surroundings of the stadium. Argentine fans dressed in National Team jerseys or the brand new Inter Miami pink 10 brought the atmosphere to the day in Florida. They even installed a grill to sell the classic choripanes: a touch of suburbanism in the heart of Miami.

The mere presence of Messi changed the spirit of the team. Even from the substitute bench, Leo infected football. Inter Miami have not won a game for two months and are last in the MLS, however last night Cruz Azul stood up and closed the first half with a 1-0 thanks to a goal by Robert Taylor.

And when he entered 8 minutes into the second half, he put on the captain’s ribbon and finished a devastating effect. From the first ball he touched he started throwing walls from the right. But Cruz Azul, who deserved better luck, reached the tie: a judiciously handled corner kick led to 1-1.

Minutes later, Messi had his chance: he took the ball on the edge of the area, but the opportune closure of a Cruz Azul central defender frustrated him. He had another with five minutes remaining, but he also gained speed from the Mexican defense.

Until the last of the game arrived. A free kick on the edge of the area in stoppage time. Ideal to expand the myth, to finish convincing himself that Leo is doing well. And it came out clear: two steps, a left-footed shot into the corner and 2-1 for Messi’s first win at Inter Miami.