August 27, (THEWILL) – Red Bull Arena was engulfed in Messi mania on Sunday night, as Argentinian superstar, Lionel Messi, made a brief but brilliant 30-minute cameo appearance in Inter Miami’s 2-0 victory over New York Red Bulls.
Although Messi played just over half an hour, he left fans euphoric by scoring a classic goal to seal their win. The arena was packed with 26,276 frenzied fans, many decked out in Messi jerseys from throughout his illustrious career. The crowd erupted when Messi came off the bench in the 60th minute and roared every time the maestro touched the ball.
The decibel levels went through the roof in the 89th minute when Messi threaded a sublime pass to teammate Benjamin Cremaschi before sinking a crafty goal to secure victory for Miami. Fans had flocked to get a glimpse of Messi magic, even if only for 30 minutes, and the Argentinian did not disappoint.
“I just came for him,” said fan Johny Chicaiza. “To me, it is a dream to be here to see Messi play. For me, it’s everything.” Messi captivated audiences outside the stadium too, with hundreds gathering in New York’s Times Square to watch the match on big screens. Although disappointed Messi did not start, fans understood him being rested before Miami’s U.S. Open Cup final.
His brief but brilliant performance stole the show, overshadowing Miami’s first league win in 15 weeks. With Messi leading the charge, Miami’s playoff chances remain alive despite lingering near the bottom of the standings. With nine games remaining, hopes are high that Messi mania will continue to sweep through stadiums as the Argentinian maestro aims to weave his magic to secure the pink side a near impossible playoff berth.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
