WATCH: Messi Magic comes to Miami; legend wins his debut match with stoppage time goal

LIONEL MESSI ARRIVED to a hero's welcome at his new club Inter Miami, and he delivered his worth on the pitch.

Coming on in the second half, Messi became the fulcrum of the Major League Soccer Club's offence against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup.

Within minutes, he sent a gem of a through ball ahead for his teammate, who charged into the box but his finish was blocked by a defender. Soon afterwards, his own expert attempt at a finish from outside the box was deflected by a sliding defender.

He constantly attracted hard tackles and off the ball collisions from opponent players. The whole stadium screamed for a penalty when he went down in the box after knocking into a defender in the 83rd minute but the referee thought it was a soft fall, and did not think it was a foul.

Soon, he cut right past Azul's defensive line and helped a teammate find the net, but he was actually offside by a mile. The Cruz keeper also made a brilliant save to deny Messi in the 89th minute, keeping the score 1-1.

When it seemed like the game was destined for a draw, that was when Messi decided to rise to instant hero status at Inter Miami.

He was brought down just outside the box, as it tends to happen with him. Taking the free kick in the 94th minute, he buried a perfect left footer into the back of the net, sending it merely inches above the defensive wall to ensure the keeper didn't see it coming until it was too late to save.

The arena erupted, as the sold out crowd anointed the world football's hero as one of their own.

This win has put Inter Miami in a strong position at Group J in the Leagues Cup, but in Major Leaue Soccer they are still at the bottom of the table. The fans will hope for the Messi magic will turn around their fortunes in the league as well.

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