Watch Lionel Messi rescue the game for ten-man Inter Miami

Inter Miami began life under Javier Mascherano with a 2-2 draw against New York City FC. The new head coach has made significant changes to the team that won the Supporters' Shield last year but one key component remains: Lionel Messi.

Although he didn’t score, Messi provided two incisive assists to ensure that Miami avoided an embarrassing opening day defeat in front of home support.

Inter Miami started the game well with their opening goal of the 2025 MLS season coming after just five minutes. Messi took a corner kick short and darted into the NYCFC box, receiving the ball in behind the defensive line and squaring the ball for Tomás Avilés to tap home.

Young defender Avilés has garnered a reputation for rash play during his time in MLS but he cant feel a little unfortunate about the latest card in his collection. With 21 minutes on the clock Avilés got caught one-on-one with Alonso Martinez and made a slightly messy challenge on the edge of his own box. The youngster appeared to get a touch on the ball before bringing Martinez to the ground but the referee deemed it a foul and Avilés was given his marching orders.

Inter Miami make late comeback

NYCFC then scored from a neatly-worked move from the resultant free kick, before Martinez added a second early in the second half. Inter Miami were losing at home in the season opener, Mascherano was spurred into action.

On the hourmark Luis Suarez was withdrawn and replaced by Telasco Segovia, the attacking midfielder who arrived in the offseason. Miami toiled away with ten men but struggled to manufacture clear-cut chances, although Federico Redondo did squander an opening carved out by Messi and Jordi Alba.

Lionel Messi had played the full 90 minutes in the CONCACAF Champions Cup game against Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday and he was needed for the duration on Saturday too. Deep into the 11 minutes of added time, Ian Fray charged upfield and found Messi lurking in space in the NYCFC half.

Messi picked up the ball and drove forward, holding off opponents before the ball through to Segovia. The new signing coolly lifted the ball over Matt Freese to level the game and secure a point for Miami.

It wasn’t the most thrilling performance to start a new era at Chase Stadium but Mascherano will be happy to have avoided defeat to start his reign. The Herons were not helped by the early red card decision but there remains a lack of attacking creativity, beyond that which is provided by Messi.

Speaking after the game, however, Mascherano didn’t seem too bothered about the team’s reliance on his compatriot: “He’s like a kid playing, and he doesn’t want to lose.”

“So for us, it’s a big, big advantage. So just we need to keep him with this spirit because it’s not just what he does on the pitch, it’s what he translates to his teammates and all that he does with his 37 years…. So it’s magnificent.”

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