In a much-awaited American debut, Lionel Messi, the world's greatest soccer player, lived up to the expectations and left a lasting impression in the most exhilarating fashion.

During his first appearance for Inter Miami, Messi scored a remarkable goal from a free kick in the 94th minute, propelling his new MLS team to a thrilling 2-1 victory against Liga MX side Cruz Azul in their Leagues Cup opener, which took place on Friday night at DRV PNK Stadium.

Displaying his veteran experience and soccer superstar status, Messi was fouled in the last minute and cleverly rolled over onto his stomach, holding his head. The foul was undeniably evident. With just a few seconds remaining before the final whistles, the stage was perfectly set.

During that crucial moment, Messi's left foot, instrumental in leading Argentina to a World Cup triumph and securing seven Ballons d'Or as the world's finest men's soccer player, assumed control.

“What I saw was the goal, I saw the goal. I knew that I had to score. It was the last play of the game and I wanted to score so we didn’t go to penalties.” Right after the game, Messi spoke in Spanish on Apple TV.

With precision, Messi's goal found the left side of the net, evading the goalkeeper's grasp, prompting exuberant celebrations from the announced crowd of over 22,000 people that persisted well into the night. The enthusiasm of Messi Mania is now vibrant and flourishing.

This momentous occasion is transcending South Florida and extending its impact across America. The world's greatest player has chosen this team, city, and soccer league as the stage to prolong his legendary career. The long-standing speculations and intrigue surrounding Messi's potential move to Inter Miami, coupled with continuous speculation about the world's greatest soccer player joining MLS, made the actual occurrence of it all feel incredibly surreal.

The culmination of years of speculations and intrigue surrounding Messi's possible move to Inter Miami, along with ongoing rumors about the world's greatest soccer player joining MLS, created an immensely surreal experience when it finally became a reality.

During his inaugural U.S. game, Messi faced adversity as he expressed frustration over a no-call fall and two offsides calls in the closing moments, contributing to the angst for the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star.