FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — It took Lionel Messi five minutes to mark the start of Intermiami’s 2025 Major League Football season.
About 95 minutes later, Messi glowed again, saving the night in Intermiami.
Messi finds new teammate Terrace Cosegobia and chases after the right side and provides the game’s second assist in the 100th minute, with Intermiami fleeing in a 2-2 draw with New York City FC at Chase Stadium on Saturday I helped out.
“He’s the soul of this team. You saw this on the pitch. He’s like a kid and I don’t want to lose,” Miami intercoach Javier Mascherano is a former teammate from Barcelona and Argentina. He talked about Messi.
“So for us, it’s a big, big advantage. We need to protect him in this spirit, as it’s not just what he’s doing on the pitch. It’s what he translates into his teammates. It’s all he does in his 37 years. … It’s great.”
Even the hero of Messi was a ugly expedition for Intermiami in the club’s first home match. Intermiami played just 10 men from 26 minutes after the early ejection, chasing 2-1 for 55 minutes.
It was Intermiami’s second match after playing dive temperatures in the Kansas City sports in the first round of Wednesday’s CONCACAF Champions Cup. Intermiami began the year with seven games in 35 days.
Intermiami begged the MLS to push Saturday’s game on Sunday, Mascherano said it was after the SKC game was delayed from Tuesday to Wednesday. The match began at 7:30pm, five hours later than the original start time.
Intermiami’s Fafa Picalt and Marcelo Weigant left the match early due to muscle damage. Luis Suarez and Benjamin Cremasi, who got their yellow cards in the 41st minute, were replaced by fresh feet early in the second half. Intermiami already had midfielder Yannick Bright (thighs), goalkeeper Drake Calendar (inductor) and defender David Martinez (ankle).
“Within 72 hours, we played at minus 24 degrees, and today they ran like horses,” Maschelano said.
Messi began the match, turning the setplay into a dynamic assist and found 21-year-old Intermiami defender Totoa Beals for the goal with an early 1-0 lead in five minutes.
Messi tapped a corner kick on David Lewis before retrieving the ball. Messi discovers Jordi Alba just outside the penalty arc, and Alba returns the ball to Messi’s cut inside the penalty box. Messi tapped his pass on Aviles with his left foot, which Aviles sent to the lower left corner of the net.
However, about 20 minutes later, Aviles received the red card and was kicked out for pulling down NYCFC’s Alonso Martínez.
Mitja Ilenič scored in the 26th minute shortly after the ejection, tied it together before Martínez scored in the 55th minute before giving the NYCFC a 2-1 lead in Intermiami.
Before halftime, Messi, Sergio Basquetz and Luis Suarez had appealed to the judge in the middle, while Mascherano discussed the bystanders.
NYCFC’s Strahinja Tanasijević fouled Suarez shortly after he got his yellow card to foul the bus. However, Tanasijević did not receive the second yellow card, leading to his ejection, with both sides playing the rest of the match with 10 players.
Luckily, Messi was able to recreate the magic he did on Wednesday. He scored his only goal in InterMiami’s 1-0 victory at Sports Kansas City.
Before his second assist on Saturday, Messi missed a free kick in the 71st minute and received a yellow card in the 91st minute of the match. He also looked visibly upset after the match. He played all 90 minutes for Kansas City, then another 105 minutes.
Intermiami felt the impact of the quick turnaround during the home opener. And they have another game in three days and will host SKC in Game 2 of the Champions Cup Series on Tuesday.
Messi’s use of future matches could be a problem, but his skill could be a problem.
“He’s the best. There’s nothing else to say,” Intermiami defender Noah Allen said. “He was the leader and the captain and I showed it today.”
Inter Miami vs NYCFC highlights
Telasco Segovia Goal: Inter Miami 2, New York City FC 2
Alonso Martinez’s goals: New York City FC 2, Intermiami 1
Intermiami is late at home in the second half. NYCFC’s Alonso Martinez scored in the 55th minute, helping his team take a 2-1 lead.
Jordi Alba’s poor pass went backwards directly to Martinez.
MITJAILENIčGoal: Inter Miami 1, New York City FC 1
New York City FC scored on a few tricks. Santiro Driguez tapped a free kick to Mitojayrenitin, which Intermiami hadn’t dealt with, while Miami lined up to the left of the defensive line. Ilenič scored quickly in the 26th minute, and the match was tied.
The opportunity for the penalty was caused by Toto Aviles of Intermiami. He immediately received a red card to tackle the NYCFC’s Alonso Martínez.
Currently Intermiami is tied up and will have to play the rest of the game with just 10 players rather than 11 starters.
Toto Aviles Goal: Inter Miami 1, New York City FC 0
Lionel Messi was assisted by Toto Aviles, who scored in the fifth minute, leaving Mark five minutes into the match.
The sequence is as follows: From Messi to Jordi Alba, then back to Messi, then 21-year-old Argentine Aviles for the score.
How to watch Intermiami vs New York City FC on TV, live stream?
The match begins at 7:30pm (8:30pm in Argentina) and is streamed via Apple TV on the MLS Season Pass.
Is Messi playing tonight? Intermiami, NYCFC starting lineup
Yes, Messi is in Intermiami’s starting lineup against the NYCFC.
Inter Miami vs New York City FC Match Preview
Intermiami had the best regular season in league history, earning the 2024 MLS Supporter Shield, but was defeated in the first round of Atlanta United’s MLS Cup playoffs in December. The NYCFC reached the conference final after finishing sixth in the Eastern Conference last season after losing to the New York Red Bulls.
It will also be your first matchup between MLS coaches. Intermiami is led by Javier Mascherano, who played for Barcelona with Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Basquets and Giordi Alba. The NYCFC hired Pascal Jansen, who previously coached in the Netherlands and Hungary.
Saturday is the first game of the MLS season, but several teams like Intermiami have started playing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup tournament again this year. Messi scored his only goal in InterMiami’s 1-0 victory in the sports of Kansas City in the first war of the first round series. They will meet again in Game 2 at Intermiami on Tuesday.
As a result, Intermiami was completely ineffective and some players were able to play a limited amount. Inter Miami NYCFC game times have been retreated five hours to explain the postponement of the SKC match between Tuesday and Wednesday due to snow.
“We know there are two very important games coming,” Mascano said Friday. “One thing is the start of the season at our home, with fans. You’re always hoping to make a statement to the fans and the rest of the league in your opening game. And obviously, We know the importance of Tuesday’s game, so we need to evaluate everything and decide on the lineup.”
MLS Matchday 1: What’s the game this weekend?
(All games available in the MLS season will be passed on Apple TV.)
Saturday
Los Angeles FC vs Minnesota United FC, 4:45pm (FOX) Atlanta United vs. Montreal, 7:30pm, ETFC Cincinnati vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30pm, etc.: 30 PM ETD.C. United vs. .Toronto FC, 7:30pm Etorlando City SC vs. Philadelphia Union, 7:30pm Etaustin FC vs. Sporting Kansas City, 8:30pm Ethouston Dynamo FC vs. FC Dallas, 8:30pm Etnashville SC Vs. New England Revolution, 8:30pm Lewis City SC vs. Colorado Rapids, 8:30pm Essan Jose Earthquake vs. Real Salt Lake, 10:30pm ETETEATTLE SOUNDERS FC vs. Charlotte FC, 10:30pm ET
Sunday
“We’re breaking the glass”: MLS, can Apple TV take advantage of our football cultural momentum?
How do I watch MLS games on TV?
This year, MLS and Apple have partnered with several companies, making it easy for fans to access MLS games. DirectV and Xfinity users can purchase MLS Season Passes from providers. T-Mobile customers will receive free access to the MLS Season Pass for the Season. Android users can find the MLS Season Pass on the Google Play Store. MLS games will be available on Apple TV+ via Amazon Prime Video since October last year. Simply put, you don’t need to have an Apple device to access your MLS games.
For more information, you can read more about Push MLS and Apple reaching out to new audiences.
Inter Miami coach Javier Masherano faces tall tasks leading Messi
Messi will be coached by former Barcelina and Argentine teammate Javier Mascherano during Intermiami’s 2025 season. Despite the pressure of succession to help the club reach new heights, Maschelano is on his new job. That certainly helps him have Luis Suarez, Sergio Baskett and Jordi Alba on his side and Messi and three other teammates.
“I’m not under pressure. I’m here and trying my best to help my players succeed,” Mascherano said during Inter Miami preseason. “We’re happy because we’re doing the right thing. We see that we’re working on the pitch (well). It’s still important and the same mentality we have now. I’m keeping it up.”
MLS Commissioner Dongerber shares the excitement of 2025 and 2026
Major League football commissioner Don Gerber believes the next two years will be a vital stretch for American football. The 2025 MLS season marks the 30th season in the league. The FIFA Club World Cup will be held in the United States later this summer, with next year’s FIFA World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“The World Cup is going to raise the attention of the sport in ways no one dreamed of,” Gerber told USA Today Sports. “And I’m going to tell people who don’t understand football or MLS that they don’t know the size of the World Cup. …Wait, it’s going to be epic.”