Lionel Messi’s reunion with his boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys ended in a 1-1 draw on Thursday night.
Messi, who joined Inter Miami last summer, played at Newell’s for five years as a child before making his mark at Barcelona.
He played for an hour against his old team in Miami’s final preseason tune-up at home.
Messi, his former Argentina teammate Maxi Rodriguez and Miami coach Tata Martino held up Newell’s shirts together for a pregame photo.
Lionel Messi played an hour as his Inter Miami side tied Newell’s Old Boys 1-1
Messi greets Esteban Fernandez and Franco Diaz of Newell’s Old Boys after the match
He, Tata Martino and Maxi Rodriguez held up Newell’s shirts before the game in a photo
Messi is kissed on the head by a Newell’s player after the 1-1 draw at DRV PNK Stadium
Messi also posed with some of his opponents for pictures after the final whistle.
He was embraced with hugs and kisses by some Newell’s players as well.
The final attendance at DRV PNK Stadium was 18,971 fans – many of whom were Newell’s supporters there to see their prodigal son Messi.
Miami’s hectic preseason, which began on January 19, took the team from El Salvador to Texas, to Saudi Arabia and then Hong Kong, where fans were left fuming not to see an injured Messi take the field.
The Herons then played one more game against Vissel Kobe before heading back to South Florida.
Before the matchup against Vissel Kobe, Messi said, ‘I’m a little tired from this whole tour, [I have] a desire to finish up the last game and to return home.
Newell’s Old Boys fans wave flags before a friendly match against Inter Miami on Thursday
Messi dribbles the ball against Julian Fernandez on Thursday night at DRV PNK Stadium
Inter Miami CF forward Shanyder Borgelin (49) celebrates after scoring a goal
Messi missed the previous match vs. a Hong Kong League XI with an inflamed adductor muscle, angering the fans that paid between £99 and £498 for tickets as well as the Hong Kong government.
While Inter Miami won the Leagues Cup last summer after Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba joined (Luis Suarez has since joined as well), not everyone is so bullish about them heading into the 2024 season.
MLS Season Pass lead analyst Taylor Twellman exclusively told Mail Sport, ‘I don’t think they’re going to blow the doors off the way a lot of the experts believe that. I just don’t see that.’
Miami’s MLS opener is next week vs. Real Salt Lake.
