Inter Miami and Newell’s Old Boys share the spoils in a thrilling friendly match that featured Lionel Messi’s return to action.
Inter Miami CF and Newell’s Old Boys played out a 1-1 draw in a friendly match at DRV PNK Stadium on Thursday, in a game that marked Lionel Messi’s comeback from injury. The Argentine superstar, who joined Inter Miami in January, played 45 minutes against his boyhood club and showed glimpses of his brilliance.
The hosts took the lead in the 64th minute, when Shanyder Borgelin scored with a low shot from inside the box after a clever pass from Leonardo Campana. The visitors equalized in the 83rd minute, when Franco Díaz fired a powerful strike from the edge of the area that beat the goalkeeper.
The game was a special occasion for Messi, who received a warm welcome from both sets of fans and exchanged jerseys with his former teammates. Messi had been sidelined for six weeks with a hamstring injury and was eager to get some minutes under his belt before the start of the MLS season.
“I’m very happy to be back on the pitch and to play against Newell’s, the club that gave me everything,” Messi said after the game. “It was a very emotional night for me and I want to thank everyone for their support.”
Inter Miami coach Phil Neville praised Messi’s performance and said he was looking forward to having him fully fit for the upcoming campaign.
“He’s a genius, he’s a joy to watch and to work with,” Neville said. “He’s still not 100% but he showed his quality and his hunger. He’s going to be a huge asset for us and I can’t wait to see him in action in the MLS.”
Newell’s Old Boys coach Germán Burgos also expressed his admiration for Messi and said he was proud of his team’s display.
“It was an honor to face Messi, he’s the best player in the world and a legend of Newell’s,” Burgos said. “We played with courage and personality and we gave a good account of ourselves. We’re happy with the result and the experience.”
