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Lionel Messi wasted no time making his mark at his new home ground.
Inter Miami officially opened their permanent home, Nu Stadium, on Saturday in a match against Austin FC that ended in a 2–2 draw. Austin FC drew first blood when Guilherme Biro headed in a corner kick in the sixth minute, but Messi went on to become the first Inter Miami player to find the net at Nu Stadium.
The 38-year-old Argentine icon nodded home a cross from Ian Fray in the ninth minute, etching his name into the stadium's history—fittingly, for the second time. Nu Stadium had already honored Messi earlier in the week by unveiling the "Leo Messi Stand," making him the first active player to have a stand named after him at his own home ground.
The moment Messi's header hit the net, the 26,700-seat venue erupted in celebration, with waves of pink smoke drifting over the stadium's pink and grey seating.
It was ALWAYS going to be him. 💥
Leo Messi scores Miami's first goal at Nu Stadium and pulls the hosts level! pic.twitter.com/p1mDk5NQk2
Is Nu Stadium Messi's Last Home Stadium?
Nu Stadium is the fourth professional club home Messi has played at, and it will in all likelihood be his final one.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or recipient signed a three-year contract extension with Miami last October, keeping him in South Florida through 2028. If he sees out the full deal, the soccer icon will be 41 years old when it concludes.
The former FC Barcelona talisman spent 17 years at the iconic Camp Nou (2004–21) before joining Paris Saint-Germain for two seasons (2021–22, 2022–23), where Parc des Princes served as his home ahead of his move to Florida and MLS in 2023.
Prior to Saturday, Inter Miami had been playing their home fixtures at Chase Stadium, a 21,500-seat temporary facility in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. After six seasons away, the Herons have returned to Miami proper—situated in the heart of the city, with Nu Stadium forming part of Miami Freedom Park and sitting adjacent to Miami International Airport.
Nu Stadium—which English soccer icon and Miami co-owner David Beckham broke ground on in 2023—becomes the 22nd soccer-specific stadium in the league. It stands as a testament to the sport's rising prominence in the U.S., driven in large part by Beckham's long-standing commitment since his LA Galaxy days in 2007 and further amplified by Messi's arrival.