Inter Miami Kicks Off 2025 Season With Thrilling Win Over Club América

Inter Miami CF opened its 2025 preseason with a thrilling match against Liga MX champions Club América, held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The game ended in a dramatic penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw, showcasing the talents of Lionel Messi and a promising young player, Santiago Morales.

Key Takeaways

• Lionel Messi scored his first goal of the 2025 season, equalizing for Inter Miami in the 34th minute.
• The match featured a late equalizer from defender Toto Avilés, forcing a penalty shootout.
• Inter Miami triumphed 3-2 in penalties, with 17-year-old Santiago Morales scoring the decisive kick.

Inter Miami faced an early challenge when Club América’s Henry Martín opened the scoring in the 31st minute. However, Messi quickly responded, heading in a goal just three minutes later after a well-coordinated play involving Luis Suárez and Jordi Alba.

The match saw Club América regain the lead in the 52nd minute through Israel Reyes, who capitalized on a defensive error. Despite trailing again, Inter Miami showed resilience, with Avilés scoring a header in the dying moments of the match (90+2′) from a corner kick taken by Julian Gressel.

With the score tied at 2-2, the game proceeded to penalties. Club América struggled, missing their first three attempts, while Inter Miami’s David Martínez and David Ruiz converted their kicks. Morales, making his debut, sealed the victory with a successful penalty, leading to celebrations among his teammates, including Messi and Suárez.

Match Highlights

1. Goals:
2. Penalty Shootout:

Looking Ahead

This match served as a crucial early test for Inter Miami as they prepare for a busy 2025 season, which includes participation in the Concacaf Champions Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. The team will continue its preseason tour with upcoming matches in Peru, Panama, and Honduras before kicking off the MLS season against New York City FC on February 22.

Messi’s performance, along with the emergence of young talents like Morales, bodes well for the team’s prospects this season. As they build on this victory, fans are eager to see how Inter Miami will fare in the competitive landscape of Major League Soccer and beyond.

Sources

• Inter Miami vs. Club America: Messi goal, score, penalty highlights, USA Today.
• Messi, Inter Miami vs. Club America: Live updates. recap | Miami Herald, Miami Herald.
• Messi’s ankle improves, but he is still out for Inter Miami vs. Toronto Leagues Cup game, AOL.com.
• Lionel Messi scores in Inter Miami preseason win over Club América | MLSSoccer.com, MLSsoccer.com.
• Lionel Messi, Inter Miami beat Club America on penalties in preseason opener in Las Vegas, The Sporting Tribune.