Lionel Messi’s reunion with childhood club Newell’s Old Boys ends in 1-1 draw with Inter Miami as MLS team wraps up hectic preseason with just one win
Lionel Messi’s reunion with his boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys ended in a 1-1 draw on Thursday evening.
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 game at home.
Inter Miami struck first through substitute Shanyder Borgelin in the 64th minute before Franco Diaz scored a late equalizer in the 83rd minute.
Messi, his former Argentina teammate Maxi Rodriguez and Miami coach Tata Martino held Newell’s shirts together for a pregame photo.
Lionel Messi played for an hour as his Inter Miami side drew Newell’s Old Boys 1-1
He, Tata Martino and Maxi Rodriguez held up Newell’s shirts in a photo before the game
Messi also posed with some of his opponents after the final whistle blew
Messi is kissed on the head by a Newell’s player after the 1-1 draw at the DRV PNK Stadium
Messi too posed with some of his opponents for photos after the final whistle.
He was also embraced with hugs and kisses by some of Newell’s players.
The final attendance at the 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 started on January 19, took the team from El Salvador to Texas, to Saudi Arabia and then to Hong Kong, where fans were left furious when they saw an injured Messi not take the field.
The Herons then played one more game against Vissel Kobe before returning to South Florida.
Miami’s MLS opener is next week vs. Real Salt Lake.
