Lionel Messi shines as Inter Miami claims Champions Cup victory against Sporting KC

Lionel Messi overcame freezing temperatures to net the sole goal as Inter Miami secured a 1-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City in their weather-postponed first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Wednesday evening.

Messi delivered the decisive blow in the 56th minute at Children’s Mercy Park, showcasing exceptional skill before unleashing a low angled shot past Kansas City’s goalkeeper, John Pulskamp.

This win provides Inter with a vital away goal as they strive to advance to the last 16 in the return leg set for next Tuesday in Florida.

The match in Kansas City was pushed back by 24 hours due to an arctic storm that blanketed the area in several inches of snow, plummeting temperatures to nearly record lows.

Even after the rescheduling, the bitter cold lingered, with the temperature at kick-off dipping to minus 17 degrees Celsius (one degree Fahrenheit).

Messi and his Inter teammates donned gloves and neck warmers, while several players from both sides opted for full-length leggings to tackle the severe cold.

Last season, Kansas City languished near the bottom of Major League Soccer’s Western Conference, managing only eight wins from 34 regular-season matches. This stood in stark contrast to Miami, which topped the Eastern Conference with a remarkable 74 points from 22 victories.

Miami’s technical prowess was clear for long stretches in the first half, with Luis Suarez coming close to breaking the deadlock in the eighth minute with a shot that narrowly missed the target.

Suarez again threatened shortly before the half-time mark, his effort from the edge of the box whizzing just past the post.

The breakthrough for Miami arrived early in the second half when Messi’s former Barcelona teammate, Sergio Busquets, delivered a cross-field pass into the box that found the Argentine sensation.

The 37-year-old legend adeptly controlled the ball on his chest, and with a deft touch, he evaded Kansas City midfielder Erik Thommy, creating the opportunity for a low shot into the far corner of the net.