Argentine hero Lionel Messi continues his football heroism in North America as the Barcelona legend scored a stoppage-time free-kick on his Major League Soccer (MLS) to secure last-gasp victory Inter Miami in their League Cup opener against Cruz Azul.

The football legend and his former Barcelona Sergio Busquets started the game from the bench in the match played at the fully packed, star-studded DRV PNK Stadium, who have come to watch the debut of arguably the greatest player to play in the MLS.

Inter Miami began the game on the back foot, and the game soon became cagey for the David Beckham-owned side. Cruz Azul owned the lion’s share of possession in the opening minutes of the tie, but they could not turn that into a goal due to several wasteful decisions in front of goal.

However, Inter Miami grew into the game and comfortably took control of the ball. They took the lead at the cusp of the half when Robert Taylor broke the deadlock in the 44th minute with a right-footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner.

Nine minutes after the break, Messi, alongside Busquets, entered the game as the football fans inside the sold-out stadium erupted in cheers and applause, chanting the name of Messi as he made his way onto the pitch.

In the 65th minute, Uriel Antuna equalised for Cruz Azul with a right-footed shot into the centre of the post as goalkeeper Drake Callander, who went on to make several crucial saves in the game, failed to deal with the ball.

Each time Messi touched the ball, the crowd in the stadium erupted in cheers. Messi set up fellow substitute Josef Martinez, who put the ball into the net but was ruled out for offside.

Messi’s first time on goal came in the 88th minute, but his shot from the left side of the box was blocked. However, the magical moment came in the fourth minute of added time when seven-time Ballon d’Or curled his signature free-kick a few metres from the box to secure the dramatic win for Inter Miami.