Inter Miami

Video: Watch Messi link with Alba for late Inter Miami goal in 1-1 tie with Galaxy

Feb 25, 2024; Carson, California, USA; Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) celebrates his goal against LA Galaxy during the second half at Dignity Health Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2024; Carson, California, USA; Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) celebrates his goal against LA Galaxy during the second half at Dignity Health Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports USA TODAY Sports

A sellout crowd paid big bucks and showed up at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, Sunday night two and a half hours before kickoff to catch every moment they could of Argentine icon Lionel Messi, whose Inter Miami team was playing the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Actress Halle Berry, Kim Kardashian and world No. 1 tennis star Novak Djokovic were among the luminaries in the audience.

Finally, in the 92nd minute, just when it seemed the Galaxy would win the game, the Messi fans got the magical moment they were hoping for. The Argentine wizard and his former FC Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba, appearing to have telepathy, strung together a sublime sequence of passes that left the crowd and Apple TV audience mesmerized and salvaged a 1-1 tie for Miami.

Messi to Alba to Messi to Alba to Messi, who while falling down, managed to get off a perfect shot with the outside of his left foot and it sailed past Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy, who had saved two Messi shots earlier in the game.

After the game, Messi and Alba walked off the field together, as they had so many times in Barcelona. With the tie, Inter Miami remains in first place in the Eastern Conference with four points after its season-opening win over Real Salt Lake. Miami returns home to play Orlando City on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

This story was originally published February 26, 2024 at 12:08 AM.

Michelle Kaufman
Miami Herald
Miami Herald sportswriter Michelle Kaufman has covered 14 Olympics, six World Cups, Wimbledon, U.S. Open, NCAA Basketball Tournaments, NBA Playoffs, Super Bowls and has been the soccer writer and University of Miami basketball beat writer for 25 years. She was born in Frederick, Md., and grew up in Miami.
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