Lionel Messi came off the substitutes’ bench to score again for Inter Miami, as they defeated New York Bulls 2-0 on Saturday night.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner was making his Major League Soccer (MLS) debut for his new club.
Messi’s dazzling goal in the 89th minute ended an 11-match league winless streak for Inter Miami.
Messi entered in the 60th minute along with former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquests.Miami had gone ahead on a 37th-minute goal by Diego Gómez in a buildup started by Jordi Alba, another Barcelona alum on a night Miami gave six players MLS debuts.
Chants of “We Want Messi!” began in the sixth minute and a loud “Mes-si!” “Mes-si!” reverberated throughout in the 35th.
“When we found out that he wouldn’t be starting, I expected there was going to be a couple angry fans,” Miami right back DeAndre Yedlin said. “But if I was a kid or a fan and I came, I would want to see the greatest to ever play the game, as well, so I can’t blame them.”