On Friday evening in San Salvador, the stage was set as Inter Miami CF commenced its 2024 preseason against El Salvador's national team. The anticipation had been building for weeks, fueled by the presence of Lionel Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of soccer.
A sold-out Cuscatlán Stadium roared with excitement as thousands of local fans, adorned in Messi jerseys, warmly greeted each Miami player entering the field. A special moment unfolded during the pre-game ceremony when El Salvador's legendary Jorge Alberto "El Mágico" González, dubbed by Diego Maradona as one of the best players ever, performed the initial kick-off, drawing thunderous cheers, especially when Messi personally acknowledged him.
The hospitality extended beyond the stadium, as Inter Miami was welcomed at their hotel by hundreds of fans. The team, arriving on modern buses painted in Inter Miami colors, received a red-carpet treatment normally reserved for dignitaries or heads of state.
The match itself featured Messi alongside former Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba for the first 45 minutes. Substitutions in the second half saw players like Facundo Farías, Leonardo Campana, Chris McVey, and David Ruiz take the field. Despite numerous goal opportunities for both sides, the game concluded in a scoreless draw.
Cuscatlán Stadium, with a capacity of 53,400 spectators, witnessed an entertaining match. Tickets for the highly anticipated event ranged from $200 to $475, with the likelihood of resale at higher prices.
Inter Miami CF's preseason includes six more matches, with Messi set to face his long-time Spanish League rival, Cristiano Ronaldo (CR7), in Saudi Arabia on February 1st. Notable among their upcoming games is a clash with Messi's former club, Newell's Old Boys, on February 15.
The remaining preseason schedule is as follows:
- Jan. 22 (6 pm ET): Inter Miami vs. FC Dallas at Cotton Bowl Stadium (Dallas, Texas)
- Jan. 29 (1 pm ET): Inter Miami vs. Al Hilal SFC at Kingdom Arena (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
- Feb. 1 (1 pm ET): Inter Miami vs. Al Nassr FC at Kingdom Arena (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
- Feb. 4 (time TBA): Inter Miami vs. Hong Kong Team at Hong Kong Stadium (Hong Kong)
- Feb. 7 (time TBA): Inter Miami vs. Vissel Kobe at Japan National Stadium (Tokyo, Japan)
- Feb. 15 (time TBA): Inter Miami vs. Newell's Old Boys at DRV PNK Stadium (Fort Lauderdale)
Messi, capping off a remarkable year, secured his eighth Ballon d'Or in Paris after leading Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup on December 18, marking a historic achievement for Inter Miami's captain
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