The glitterati turned out in force to witness Lionel Messi's Inter Miami face off against LA Galaxy in Sunday's 1-1 draw, and as expected, the Argentine maestro did not disappoint.
Among the notable attendees were tennis world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, actors Halle Berry, Edward Norton, and Liv Tyler, musician Anderson Paak, footballers Tobin Heath and Christen Press, and WNBA legend Diana Taurasi, all eager to experience "Messimania" firsthand.
Despite LA Galaxy taking the lead in the 75th minute through Serbian striker Dejan Joveljić, Inter Miami, bolstered by recent additions Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets, found themselves outplayed for much of the match.
However, in a moment reminiscent of their Barcelona days, Messi and Alba combined brilliantly in the 92nd minute, with Messi sliding in to convert after a mesmerizing exchange of passes, securing the equalizer for Miami.
Miami's cause was further aided by a red card shown to Galaxy midfielder Marco Delgado in the 88th minute, following a perceived dive by Busquets, resulting in his second yellow card.
Despite the match being held at Galaxy's home turf, a resounding cheer erupted in the stadium as Messi's goal found the back of the net, with sections of Argentine and Miami fans paying homage to the footballing icon from the stands.
Former Galaxy star Beckham, now a part-owner of Inter Miami, notably refrained from celebrating the equalizing goal against his former club.
Reflecting on the match, Miami coach Gerardo Martino acknowledged Galaxy's dominance in the first half, particularly highlighting Riqui Puig's influential play. Martino also noted Galaxy's recent acquisitions, including Puig and Joseph Paintsil, which transformed the team's dynamic, making them a formidable force.
However, Martino praised his team's resilience and credited Messi's brilliance for securing the draw, emphasizing the Argentine's game-changing impact.
Additionally, Messi's stellar performance coincided with him reaching 500 million Instagram followers, cementing his status as one of the most followed personalities on the platform, second only to his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
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