Lionel Messi marked a pivotal moment in his storied career on Saturday night, netting Inter Miami’s first-ever goal at the club’s gleaming new stadium during a thrilling MLS match against Austin FC.
The Opening Match Unfolds
Austin FC struck first in the sixth minute through Guilherme Biro’s header, silencing the home crowd momentarily. Messi responded swiftly in the 10th minute, rising high to connect with Ian Fray’s precise cross and head home the equalizer. This strike marked Messi’s fifth goal in just his sixth MLS appearance this season, underscoring his commanding form since the 2026 campaign kicked off.
The contest concluded in a 2-2 draw, with Austin regaining the lead via Jayden Nelson before Luis Suarez leveled the score nine minutes from time. This game represented Inter Miami’s debut in its namesake city after over six years based in Fort Lauderdale.
Beckham’s Celebratory Address
Pre-match excitement peaked as co-owner David Beckham, joined by co-owners Jorge and Jose Mas, rallied fans with a stirring speech. Beckham hailed Messi as the ‘best player in the history of the game’ and thanked him for transforming Inter Miami. He emphasized, ‘We believed in Miami. And Miami believed in us.’
The stadium honors Messi with a dedicated ‘Leo Messi Stand’ on the east side. Beckham attended alongside his wife Victoria and sons Cruz and Romeo.
Stadium Features and Development
The 26,700-capacity venue forms part of the expansive Miami Freedom Park campus, boasting a 5,000-space parking garage, a 750-room hotel, retail outlets, 58 acres of public parks, and community soccer fields. Construction costs for the stadium total around $350 million, with the full campus nearing $1 billion—all privately funded. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis approved $8 million in public funds for surrounding road improvements.
Beckham broke ground on the project, initially dubbed Miami Freedom Park, in 2023. Cruz Beckham, 21, shared Instagram photos from the venue, captioning them: ‘Dad I really couldn’t be more proud of you, you have inspired me every day to be a better human and have consistently proved that as long as you work as hard as you can you can achieve your dreams. And today you have made history once again, Vamos Miami, see ya tonight.’ He even tested Messi’s pitchside seat.
Beckham recently posted training session videos from the pink-and-white pitch, dubbing it ‘Our new home,’ and shared turf-testing images celebrated by fans worldwide.
