Lionel Messi etched another chapter in his illustrious career by netting Inter Miami’s inaugural goal at the newly unveiled Nu Stadium. The milestone occurred in the 10th minute during Saturday’s clash with Austin FC, mere minutes after the visitors struck first.
Match Highlights
Austin FC’s Guilherme Biro opened the scoring with a header in the sixth minute, silencing the home supporters. Messi responded swiftly, leaping to connect with Ian Fray’s precise cross for a clinical header that leveled the score and electrified the crowd. This strike marked Messi’s fifth goal in the MLS season across just six outings, underscoring his strong start to the 2026 campaign.
The contest concluded in a 2-2 draw, with Austin’s Jayden Nelson regaining the lead before Luis Suarez equalized nine minutes from time.
Stadium Opening Ceremony
Excitement peaked before kickoff as David Beckham, co-owner alongside Jorge and Jose Mas, rallied fans with a stirring address. Beckham hailed Messi as the ‘best player in the history of the game’ and expressed gratitude for his transformative influence on Inter Miami.
The east side of the 26,700-capacity venue bears a permanent honor: the ‘Leo Messi Stand.’ Beckham declared, ‘We believed in Miami. And Miami believed in us.’
Doors to Nu Stadium swung open Friday evening, marking Inter Miami’s first match in its namesake city after over six years based in Fort Lauderdale.
Development Details
The stadium cost approximately $350 million, with the broader Miami Freedom Park complex totaling around $1 billion. Amenities include a 5,000-space parking garage, a 750-room hotel, retail village, and 58 acres of public parks plus community soccer fields. Club officials confirm full private funding covered construction, though Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis approved $8 million for surrounding roadwork.
Beckham attended with wife Victoria and sons Cruz and Romeo. Cruz, 21, shared Instagram photos from the tour, captioning them: ‘Dad I really couldn’t be more proud of you, you have inspired me every day to be a better human and have consistently proved that as long as you work as hard as you can you can achieve your dreams. And today you have made history once again, Vamos Miami, see ya tonight.’
Beckham broke ground in 2023, three years after founding the club, and recently posted training session videos from the pink-and-white pitch, dubbing it ‘Our new home.’
