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Lionel Messi is already facing some controversy after his MLS debut.
On Friday night, Messi played his first game for Inter Miami FC against Mexican club Cruz Azul.
Several celebrities, including Kim Kardashian, LeBron James, Serena Williams, and Tom Brady, showed up to watch Messi play.
https://twitter.com/missh8ter/status/1682550164450320385
Messi sat for the first half and subbed into the game in the 52st minute.
With the game tied, 1-1, Messi was fouled in the 91st minute and given a free kick, but many fans believed he flopped and was gifted a foul by the refs.
Messi foul call pic.twitter.com/4Qh5RQznVo
— sportsvids99 (@sportsvids991) July 22, 2023
Messi went on to score the game-winning goal with the free kick, and some fans were furious.
MESSI'S FIRST GOAL FOR INTER MIAMI AND IT'S A GAME-WINNER 🤯
WHAT A MOMENT
(via @MLS)
pic.twitter.com/SoF9dSrbDY— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 22, 2023
A flop saved Messi’s debut. 😂
— 𝕆𝕓𝕚𝕁𝕦𝕒𝕟. ⭕️ (@OraleJuan) July 22, 2023
MLS is rigged.
— idk what to write here. (@carlospfcb) July 22, 2023
if you dont think MLS is rigged…
— Hall of Fame Baseball Person (@WimpyWorldwide) July 22, 2023
Messi getting carried by the refs, imagine my shock 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/EU9KfxjUzm
— D’Or 🔜 (@Haa7and) July 22, 2023
No way that was a foul on Lionel Messi.
If this is a sign of things to come, Inter Miami will be getting a ton of soft free kicks and penalties.
— Nikhil Deshpande (@Chaseeism) July 22, 2023
https://twitter.com/bighunkx/status/1682573906295816193
No one is denying the quality of the free kick but every messi fan knows that was never a foul but a huge flop by their goat after losing possession for the 5th time in the last minute
— Karim Abdelrahman (@sausagey666) July 22, 2023