Lionel Messi marked his first goal of 2025, leading Inter Miami to a hard-fought victory against Club América in a preseason clash that went all the way to penalties after a 2-2 draw in regular time.
The preseason match, held at Allegiant Stadium, saw both teams trade goals in an intense back-and-forth affair. Messi, the Argentine superstar, scored in the 34th minute with a brilliant header that leveled the score after Club América had taken the lead earlier in the match.
With his goal, Messi extended his incredible scoring streak to 21 consecutive years, continuing his remarkable consistency on the pitch. His performance was especially significant for Inter Miami’s new coach, Javier Mascherano, who was making his debut as the team’s head coach for this match. Mascherano, a close friend and former teammate of Messi, celebrated the goal with pride as his squad continued to gel ahead of the upcoming season.
The match remained tied at 2-2 after the 90 minutes of regular play, and with no winner found during the standard time, the game proceeded to a penalty shootout to decide the outcome. In the shootout, Inter Miami triumphed with a 3-2 victory, aided by composed penalty-taking from their players, with 17-year-old Santiago Morales scoring the decisive penalty in a dazzling debut performance. His calm finish under pressure earned him the praise of his teammates and coaches alike.
The match was part of Inter Miami’s preseason preparations as they gear up for the 2025 MLS season. The team plans to continue their preseason tour with matches lined up in Peru, Panama, and Honduras, giving coach Mascherano plenty of time to finalize his tactical approach ahead of the new campaign. The team will play a friendly match against Orlando City in Tampa, and their regular season opener is scheduled for February 22, 2025, against New York City FC.
