Messi Stirs Up the Crowd After Scoring Against América in Preseason Match

During a preseason match between Inter Miami and América, held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Lionel Messi found himself in a memorable exchange with the Mexican club's fans. After Henry Martín put América ahead with a goal in the 30th minute, Messi quickly equalized for Inter Miami, capitalizing on a defensive error from América. But it was not just his goal that drew attention—it was his post-goal interaction with the fans that stole the show.

After celebrating with his teammates, Messi turned toward the América supporters and made a series of gestures, including showing his number 10 jersey and signaling with his hands three times while walking back to the center of the field. Some angles captured Messi seemingly raising three fingers before making a gesture that resembled his famous phrase, "¿Qué mirás, bobo?"

Messi’s First 2025 Goal and the Preseason Rivalry

This match marked Messi's first appearance for Inter Miami in 2025 as part of their preseason preparation, facing off against América, the current three-time Liga MX champions. Messi’s equalizer came after a poor clearance attempt by Sebastián Cáceres, which Luis Suárez recovered and crossed to Messi. The Argentine forward scored with a header, demonstrating his sharpness ahead of the MLS season.

América, on the other hand, fielded their full-strength squad for this match as part of their mini-tour in the U.S. in preparation for the start of the 2025 Clausura tournament, which began two weeks ago.

A Controversial Moment and Messi’s Growing Impact

The incident sparked reactions from both fans and media, with Messi’s bold gesture fueling the rivalry between the two clubs. His celebratory exchange was reminiscent of his fiery personality, reminding many of his earlier years in Argentina.

Key Moments from the Match

• Messi’s Equalizer: Messi scored his first goal of 2025 in a preseason match, leveling the game for Inter Miami after América took the lead.
• Controversial Gesture: Messi’s celebration, which included showing his jersey and making hand gestures toward América’s fans, sparked a lot of attention and comparisons to his infamous "¿Qué mirás, bobo?" phrase.
• Assistance from Luis Suárez: Messi’s goal came from a cross by Luis Suárez, who took advantage of a defensive mistake by Sebastián Cáceres.
• First Appearance of 2025: The match marked Messi’s first 2025 match for Inter Miami as part of their preseason training.
• América’s Full Squad: América played with their starting lineup as they prepare for the new Clausura tournament in Mexico.