Lionel Messi Inter Miami MLS Season Opener Highlights

Lionel Messi opened the 2025 MLS season in trademark fashion, orchestrating Inter Miami's convincing victory in their home opener at Chase Stadium. The Argentine maestro was involved in everything positive for the Herons, delivering a performance that justified the massive ticket prices and global television audience tuning in to watch the greatest player of his generation.

Messi Pulls the Strings From the Start

From the opening whistle, Messi's influence was unmistakable. Operating in a free role behind the striker, he collected the ball deep and drove at the opposing defense with the close control and vision that have defined his career. His first contribution came in the 18th minute, when a perfectly weighted through ball split the defense and set up a tap-in goal for his teammate. The pass was vintage Messi — seemingly simple, yet impossible for anyone else to execute with such precision.

Messi added a goal of his own just before halftime, curling a free kick from 25 yards into the top corner. The strike left the goalkeeper rooted to the spot and sent the home crowd into delirium. It was his 25th career free-kick goal in all competitions since joining Inter Miami, a number that continues to grow with remarkable consistency.

Supporting Cast Steps Up

While Messi grabbed the headlines, the surrounding cast deserves credit for an all-around strong performance. Jordi Alba continued to provide overlapping runs down the left flank, creating width that opens space for Messi centrally. Sergio Busquets controlled the tempo from midfield with his usual calm authority, recycling possession efficiently and breaking up opposition attacks before they could develop.

The defensive unit also impressed, maintaining a compact shape that limited the visitors to long-range efforts. Head coach Tata Martino praised the team's collective discipline, noting that the off-season conditioning program has paid dividends in terms of pressing intensity and recovery speed.

A Statement of Intent

The convincing victory sends a clear message to the rest of the league: Inter Miami is the team to beat in 2025. With Messi fully healthy and surrounded by quality, the Herons look equipped to defend their Supporters' Shield title and mount a serious challenge for the MLS Cup. For the tens of thousands who packed Chase Stadium, the season opener confirmed that watching Messi in person remains one of the great privileges in sports.