LIONEL MESSI announced his arrival in the United States in the only way he knows.
With a magical 94th-minute winner a sensational 25-yard free-kick which flew into the top corner for a suitably dramatic finish to his Inter Miami debut.
If people did not understand the Messi effect' before, then they certainly do now. His move to Major League Soccer has created huge excitement, a buzz around the whole of the sport in the USA.
And the first part of the mission is already accomplished.
Inter Miami have suddenly become the hottest ticket in town as LeBron James, Serena Williams and Kim Kardashian were all there to witness Messi come on as a 54th-minute substitute and then celebrate a fairytale ending (right).
His every touch was cheered, his dramatic winner greeted with huge joy, disbelief, fireworks and tears of emotion among the sell-out 22,000 crowd.
Little wonder tickets had been changing hands for £1,000. This is the biggest moment for the MLS since David Beckham joined LA Galaxy in 2007 and Messi can have an even bigger impact yet.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 23, 2023-Ausgabe von The Sunday Mirror.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 23, 2023-Ausgabe von The Sunday Mirror.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Zeezy does it
FEMI LAST-GASP\LEVELLER,DENIES CATS
Leading an Art Lesson
GUNNERS TURN ON THE STYLE TO SNAP MISERABLE RUN
ODETO A GENIUS
Gunners skipper is poetry in motion inspiring classic win
'WE CAN'T RELY ON KIDS TO STAY IN THIS LEAGUE'
TAYLOR HARWOOD-BELLIS and Tyler Dibling are stars in the making.
BELLAMY'S TRIUMPH SHINES A LIGHT ON FA'S PRICEY GAMBLE
CRAIG BELLAMY'S annual salary as Wales manager is not widely known, but most estimates have it around the £500,000 mark.
Why I blame baby talc for my cancer
Brit suing US giant over asbestos link tells how her health fell apart
The tip of climate change
Coastal landslips expose old rubbish dumps to sea
Chaos reigns at Cop29 as nations walk over finance
COP29 collapsed into chaos yesterday with delegates from several countries walking out on the climate change talks.
You can earn more working for IKEA than in social care ... Labour wants to fix that
A FAIR pay deal for care staff will help fix our creaking NHS, Angela Rayner says.
Denzel swaps $8,000 booze sessions for Training Days
DENZEL Washington says he is getting back in shape after spending years downing wine and sometimes knocking back $8,000-worth in a day.