MIAMI — David Beckham began his journey to deliver a Main League Soccer group to Miami a minimum of 13 years in the past. And it’s been practically 30 years because the Miami Fusion arrange store in Fort Lauderdale, like Inter Miami has for the previous six seasons.
On Saturday, an MLS membership lastly performed a league match in Miami.
Commercial
It might need been a draw, however there was nonetheless purpose to have fun.
Argentine World Cup champion rating his group’s first aim within the new stadium, and Uruguayan nice Luis Suarez scored the equalizer for , which settled for at Nu Stadium on Saturday, April 4.
Austin FC’s Guilherme Biro scored the stadium’s first aim, whereas Jayden Nelson added a aim to push Inter Miami on the brink within the inaugural match.
1 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Mar. 18, 2026: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF celebrates with teammate Sergio Reguilon #3 of Inter Miami CF after scoring his group’s first aim in the course of the CONCACAF Champions Cup Spherical of 16 Second Leg match between Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Messi, the Argentine World Cup champion, scored his 900th aim for membership and nation in Inter MiamiÕs match towards Nashville SC.
1 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Mar. 18, 2026: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF celebrates with teammate Sergio Reguilon #3 of Inter Miami CF after scoring his group’s first aim in the course of the CONCACAF Champions Cup Spherical of 16 Second Leg match between Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Messi, the Argentine World Cup champion, scored his 900th aim for membership and nation in Inter MiamiÕs match towards Nashville SC.
2 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Dec. 6, 2025: Lionel Messi lifts the Philip F. Anschutz trophy after Inter Miami’s win in 2025 MLS Cup. Messi was named the sport’s MVP within the 3-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps.
3 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Nov. 29, 2025:Lionel Messi and Tomas Aviles have fun with the trophy after profitable the Japanese Convention remaining towards New York Metropolis FC at Chase Stadium on in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
4 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Nov. 8, 2025: Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring towards Nashville SC throughout a first-round playoff sport at Chase Stadium. Messi scored two targets as Inter Miami prevailed, 4-0, in Recreation 3 of the best-of-three collection to advance to the Japanese Convention semifinals.
5 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Nov. 5, 2025: Lionel Messi holds the “key to town” that he obtained from Miami mayor Francis Suarez on the American Enterprise Discussion board on the Kaseya Heart in Miami.
6 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Oct. 24, 2025: Lionel Messi scores a aim off a header towards Nashville SC in the course of the first half of a Spherical 1 playoff sport at Chase Stadium. Messi scored two targets as Inter Miami received the primary sport of a best-of-three collection, 3-1.
7 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Oct. 24, 2025: MLS commissioner Don Garber presents the league’s Golden Boot award for essentially the most targets scored in the course of the common season to Lionel Messi earlier than a playoff sport towards Nashville SC at Chase Stadium. Messi led MLS with 29 targets scored in the course of the 2025 season.
8 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Sept. 24, 2025: Lionel Messi celebrates his aim towards New York Metropolis FC at Citi Discipline. Messi scored two targets in Inter Miami’s 4-0 win.
9 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
July 5, 2025: Lionel Messi celebrates along with his Inter Miami teammate after scoring a aim towards CF Montreal in the course of the first half at Saputo Stadium. Messi had two targets in Inter Miami’s 4-1 win.
10 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
June 29, 2025: Lionel Messi is consoled by Paris Saint-Germain’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia throughout Inter Miami’s 4-0 loss to PSG within the Spherical of 16 of the FIFA Membership World Cup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
11 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Might 31, 2025: Lionel Messi scores a aim towards the Columbus Crew at Chase Stadium. Messi scored two targets in Inter Miami’s 5-1 win.
12 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Might 3, 2025: Lionel Messi celebrates with Inter Miami teammate Luis Suarez (9) after scoring a aim towards the New York Crimson Bulls at Chase Stadium. Inter Miami received the sport, 4-1.
13 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
April 9, 2025: Lionel Messi scores towards Los Angeles FC in the course of the first half at Chase Stadium. Messi scored twice within the sport as Inter Miami went on to defeat LAFC, 3-2 on combination, of their Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal matchup.
14 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
March 16, 2025: Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a aim towards Atlanta United throughout Inter Miami’s 2-1 win at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
15 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Feb. 22, 2025: Lionel Messi (10) controls the ball in the course of the MLS season-opening weekend match towards New York Metropolis FC at Chase Stadium. Inter Miami tied NYCFC, 2-2, within the sport.
16 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Nov. 9, 2024: Lionel Messi leaves the pitch after Inter Miami’s first-round playoff loss to Atlanta United at Chase Stadium.
17 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Oct. 2, 2024: Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a aim towards the Columbus Crew in the course of the first half at Decrease.com Discipline. Messi scored twice in Inter Miami’s 3-2 win, which clinched the MLS Supporters’ Defend.
18 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Sept. 14, 2024: Lionel Messi celebrates a aim scored towards the Philadelphia Union at Chase Stadium. Messi scored two targets within the 3-1 Inter Miami win.
19 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
April 27, 2024: Lionel Messi makes an attempt a nook kick towards the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium. Messi scored two targets in Inter Miami’s 4-1 win. A crowd of 65,612 confirmed up at Gillette Stadium, setting a New England Revolution residence attendance report (earlier excessive: 61,316 for 2002 MLS Cup).
20 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
April 20, 2024: Lionel Messi shakes fingers with the officers after the sport towards Nashville SC at Chase Stadium. Messi scored two targets in Inter Miami’s 3-1 win.
21 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
April 6, 2024: Lionel Messi and the Colorado Rapids’ Kimani Stewart-Baynes (27) battle for the ball in the course of the second half at Chase Stadium. Messi scored a aim for Inter Miami in a 2-2 draw.
22 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
March 13, 2024: Lionel Messi celebrates with Luis Suarez after scoring a aim towards Nashville SC in the course of the second leg of a Concacaf Champions Cup Spherical of 16 match. Inter Miami received the sport, 3-1, and superior on combination 5-3, to the quarterfinals.
23 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
March 2, 2024: Lionel Messi talks to the media after Inter Miami’s 5-0 win towards Orlando Metropolis at Chase Stadium. Messi scored two targets within the win.
24 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Feb. 25, 2024: Lionel Messi scores an equalizing aim previous Los Angeles Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy in the course of the second half at Dignity Well being Sports activities Park. Messi’s aim salvaged a 1-1 draw for Inter Miami on the highway in Carson, California.
25 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Feb. 21, 2024: Lionel Messi reacts after a 2-0 season-opening win over Actual Salt Lake at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
26 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Nov. 10, 2023: Lionel Messi poses with the Ballon d’Or trophy earlier than Inter Miami’s pleasant towards New York Metropolis at DRV PNK Stadium.
27 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Sept. 20, 2023: Lionel Messi locations the captains armband on defender DeAndre Yedlin after being subbed off in the course of the first half of Inter Miami’s 4-0 win over Toronto FC at DRV PNK Stadium.
28 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Sept. 3, 2023: Lionel Messi and Los Angeles FC’s Mateusz Bogusz (19) battle for the ball in the course of the second half of Inter Miami’s 3-1 win at BMO Stadium.
29 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Aug. 30, 2023: Inter Miami’s DeAndre Yedlin (2) and Lionel Messi hoist the Leagues Cup trophy earlier than the sport towards Nashville SC at DRV PNK Stadium.
30 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Aug. 26, 2023: Lionel Messi (10) celebrates after scoring a aim towards the New York Crimson Bulls with teammate Benjamin Cremaschi (30) in the course of the second half at Crimson Bull Area. Inter Miami received, 2-0, in what was Messi’s first MLS regular-season sport.
31 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Aug. 23, 2023: Lionel Messi celebrates with Facundo Farias (11) after defeating FC Cincinnati in penalty kicks within the U.S. Open Cup semifinals at TQL Stadium.
32 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Aug. 19, 2023: Messi in the course of the trophy ceremony for the Leagues Cup Championship match.
33 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Aug. 19, 2023: Messi waves after profitable the Leagues Cup remaining towards Nashville.
34 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Aug. 15, 2023: Messi reacts after scoring towards the Philadelphia Union. Inter Miami received the Leagues Cup semifinal, 4-1.
35 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Aug. 11, 2023: Messi celebrates after scoring towards Charlotte FC within the Leagues Cup quarterfinals.
36 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Aug. 6, 2023: Lionel Messi scores in penalty kicks towards FC Dallas in a Leagues Cup Spherical of 16 knockout sport.
37 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Aug. 6, 2023: Messi celebrates a aim towards FC Dallas with teammate Jordi Alba.
38 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Aug. 2, 2023: Lionel Messi scores a aim previous Orlando Metropolis SC goalkeeper Pedro Gallese in the course of the Leagues Cup.
39 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
July 25, 2023: Lionel Messi celebrates a aim towards Atlanta United in the course of the Leagues Cup.
40 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
July 21, 2023: Lionel Messi celebrates scoring a game-winning aim towards Cruz Azul in the course of the Leagues Cup opener.
41 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
July 21, 2023: Lionel Messi celebrates a aim towards Cruz Azul within the Leagues Cup opener.
42 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
July 16, 2023: Lionel Messi was launched as a Miami participant at an occasion at DRV PNK Stadium.
43 / 43
Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
July 16, 2023: Lionel Messi was launched as a Miami participant at an occasion at DRV PNK Stadium.
Inter Miami managing proprietor Jorge Mas stood alongside Beckham and brother Jose Mas atop the stadium steps to earlier than the match.
Commercial
Beckham and Mas addressed followers earlier than the sport, commemorating the dream they each shared to succeed in the second.
“After I got here to America and the MLS 20 years in the past, my dream was to win championships, assist increase the sport of soccer that I really like a lot and to construct my very own group,” Beckham mentioned.
“13 years in the past, I introduced Miami was my selection. We had no title. We had no followers. We had no stadium. Right this moment, I stand in our new residence. We’re champions of the MLS. We now have the most effective participant within the historical past of the sport enjoying in Miami. Goals actually can come true.”
MLS commissioner Don Garber believes the stadium is the most recent signal of progress for the league earlier than the .
Commercial
Nonetheless, there’s loads of venue enchancment ongoing, with building exterior the stadium to be accomplished within the coming weeks.
When requested if Inter Miami ought to have delayed or postponed its match so the stadium might be additional accomplished, Garber mentioned, “It went right down to the wire, however they had been assured that they had been going to get that over the end line.”
“It is nonetheless obtained some work to be executed,” Garber mentioned. “Frankly, I used to be right here a month in the past or so, and what’s occurred within the final 30 days, the place they’re as we speak is simply exceptional. It is approach additional alongside than I anticipated it to be. I’ve realized a lesson that when individuals inform you issues are to get executed, generally you simply obtained to belief them.”
Garber additionally praised Beckham and Mas for his or her work in Nu Stadium at Miami Freedom Park.
Commercial
“It is completely spectacular,” Garber mentioned. “It feels to me like a constructing that would rival any sports activities facility wherever on the earth. Not simply soccer stadiums, however any sports activities constructing.”
Followers cheer in the course of the first half after the inaugural sport at Miami’s Nu Stadium between Inter Miami CF and Austin FC on April 4, 2026.
If Beckham’s superstar , Messi’s arrival despatched Inter Miami and MLS to new heights with world recognition.
And Garber believes the most effective remains to be but to come back.
“I feel our greatest days are nonetheless forward,” Garber mentioned. “David shined a light-weight on our league, and Leo’s taking that torch, and he’s displaying it round. And we’re getting calls from gamers world wide.”