Lionel Messi

Fans joke that the Leagues Cup is rigged for Messi and Inter Miami after questionable calls

Inter Miami and Lionel Messi advanced to the Leagues Cup Round of 16 on Tuesday after defeating Orlando City 3-1 at DRV PNK Stadium. Messi scored twice in the victory, but that’s not the big discussion this time.

Some fans are questioning calls from the referee and joking that the tournament is rigged for Messi and Miami.

The two major incidents that raised eyebrows were a soft penalty call in Miami’s favor in the second half and the lack of a foul called against Messi.

Las celebraciones Marvel de Messi: ¿Dedicatorias a sus hijos o una movida comercial de la MLS?

Más allá de las teorías "ya denle la Copa" que acusan a la Leagues Cup de estar ayudando a Lionel Messi – acomodándolo para que no juegue en pasto artificial y cobrando dudosos penales – otra conversación que rodea la llegada del argentino al Inter Miami tiene que ver con sus curiosos festejos a la hora de marcar y cuya inspiración claramente proviene del universo Marvel.

They can't resist him! List of celebrities that went to see Lionel Messi in Inter Miami

Lionel Messi has not only revolutionized the style of play of Inter Miami but also transformed their boutique-ish DRV PNK Stadium into one of the hottest places in the U.S. to spot celebrities.

In just two games, the parade of elite athletes from other sports, actors and singers who have sat in the venue's VIP boxes to watch the Argentine's talent is just impressive.

List of celebrities at Inter Miami games to see Lionel Messi

Here is a running catalog of A-listers that couldn't resist Messi's magnetism.

Kim Kardashian

What song does Inter Miami play every time they score a goal?

Inter Miami are scoring goals. Yes, they have been doing it for a couple of years now, but since Lionel Messi's debut less than a week ago, the rest of the world has taken notice, too. 

During this process, fans who are joining the bandwagon have also discovered that the club enjoys celebrating those goals by blasting the DRV PNK Stadium's speaker system with some highly divisive earworms.

I mean, you love them. Or you hate them.

Inter Miami goal song

The songs in question are two, and two very famous among Latino audiences:

Inter Miami fans leave in droves after Messi subs off

Few would argue that Inter Miami’s high-profile midseason acquisitions have brought Major League Soccer to a level of notoriety that it has never seen before. Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets were always going to bring new fans to DRV PNK Stadium, but Tuesday’s crowd will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. 

Following Messi’s substitution late in the match, videos showed many fans in the crowd leaving their seats and heading home for the night. 

No fue de vacaciones: Messi marca doblete y da asistencia en goleada de Inter Miami

Lionel Messi le regaló una nueva noche mágica al Inter Miami.

El fenómeno argentino inició su primer partido como titular para la franquicia de la MLS y mostró que su calidad es inconmensurable, anotando un doblete y registrando una asistencia en la goleada 4-0 sobre Atlanta United en la Leagues Cup.

Messi scores two for a transformed Inter Miami in second appearance

At the end of the day, it's all about Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba (maybe Luis Suarez) turning around Inter Miami's season with 12 matches remaining and getting them from dead last in MLS to the playoffs. 

In the meantime, they might just win the Leagues Cup.

En el último minuto de juego: Messi castiga la farra de Cruz Azul con un tiro libre épico

Lionel Messi es un ser mágico.

El argentino debutó con la playera del Inter Miami y de inmediato dejó un momento épico para la historia del equipo floridano. Un gol sublime de tiro libre, en el último minuto de juego, y que sirvió para vencer a Cruz Azul por 2-1 en el inicio de la Leagues Cup.

Gol de Lionel Messi vs Cruz Azul

Cruz Azul tuvo incontables chances para sacar una victoria desde el DRV PNK Stadium, pero su falta de puntería se ha vuelto su pecado mortal.

Lionel Messi scores outrageous winner with last kick of the match on Inter Miami debut

How big is Lionel Messi?

Inter Miami, dead last in MLS, hosted Cruz Azul, bottom of Liga MX, in the uncelebrated Leagues Cup on Friday night, and a sellout crowd (one fan paid $3.5K for a spot near midfield) with LeBron James, Serena Williams, Kim Kardashian, Marc Anthony and Becky G in attendance showed up to watch.

You would've thought that Kim K had cursed Miami to a group stage exit, but Messi had other plans. 

Kim Kardashian y LeBron James asisten al debut de Lionel Messi en Inter Miami

El debut de Lionel Messi en el Inter Miami, enfrentando a Cruz Azul en la Leagues Cup, no solo es un evento deportivo, sino que también social. Prueba de ellos es que varias celebridades estadounidenses acudieron al DRV PNK Stadium para ser testigos del estreno del campeón del mundo.

Kim Kardashian en el debut de Lionel Messi

Una de las figuras más reconocibles en las tribunas fue la influencer Kim Kardashian, quien en entrevista con Apple TV señaló que su presencia se debía a que "mi hijo está obsesionado con el fútbol".

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