Inter Miami kicked off its 2025 season with a 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City this Wednesday in the first-leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup first round, with Lionel Messi scoring a brilliant goal. The match, originally scheduled for Tuesday, had been postponed by 24 hours due to a snowstorm. However, the freezing temperatures remained, and by 7:00 PM local time, the wind chill at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City reached -21°C.

Messi’s Stunning Goal with Inter Miami

Despite the frigid conditions, Inter Miami dominated the game with Messi, Luis Suárez, and Sergio Busquets as starters, although Jordi Alba was absent due to suspension. The Florida-based team struggled to find precision in the first half, but Messi scored his first goal of the year in the second half with a trademark piece of brilliance.

This Sporting Kansas City vs. Inter Miami match also marked the official debut of Javier Mascherano as the team’s head coach, who maintained an unbeaten record during preseason.

Next Match for Inter Miami

The second-leg of this Concacaf Champions Cup round will be played next Tuesday at Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium, with more favorable temperatures expected. Additionally, Messi and the rest of the team will debut in the MLS on Saturday against New York City FC at home.

Football in Freezing Conditions

Despite the overwhelming cold, Inter Miami kept its focus and dominated from the start, with Messi assisting Luis Suárez in the 7th minute, who came close to opening the scoring. The visiting team controlled possession while Sporting Kansas City struggled to find its new forward, Dejan Joveljić.

The goal came in the second half when Busquets sent a long pass to Messi. With his usual skill, Messi controlled the ball with his chest, turned away from the local defense, and fired a shot that hit the post before finding the net. This allowed Inter Miami to adopt a more defensive posture and protect their lead while Sporting Kansas City pushed forward.

The home team had some dangerous chances, but Inter Miami, with a solid performance from goalkeeper Óscar Ustari, was able to hold on to its lead and secure the win in an extremely cold night in Kansas.