The Midwest state of Kansas is in chaos due to a severe snowstorm. In such extreme weather, even stepping outside is challenging—let alone playing football!
With temperatures dropping far below freezing, the weather office declared Kansas City’s conditions hazardous. As a result, Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami saw their CONCACAF Champions Cup match against local team Sporting KC postponed by 24 hours.
Even though the snowfall had stopped today, the temperature was still at a bone-chilling -17°C, with the wind making it feel like -24°C. Messi had never played in such conditions before, and the brutal cold could have kept him out of the match. But instead, he defied the freezing temperatures, stepped onto the field, scored a goal, and led Miami to victory.
At Kansas City’s Children’s Mercy Park, Messi netted the game-winning goal in the 56th minute, securing a 1-0 win in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup’s opening round. This was Miami’s first competitive match of the new season.
The second leg will take place at Miami’s Chase Stadium on Wednesday morning (Bangladesh time). With this away victory, Miami has taken a strong step toward the Round of 16.
Messi’s winning goal was a thing of beauty. Receiving a lofted pass from Sergio Busquets near midfield, the Argentine legend controlled the ball with his chest inside Kansas City’s box. He swiftly shifted it from his left foot to his right, outmaneuvered Sporting KC’s midfielder Erik Thommy, and sent goalkeeper John Pulskamp the wrong way to find the net.
This marked Messi’s first goal in competitive football in 2025, extending his streak of scoring in 21 consecutive seasons. His career tally now stands at an astonishing 851 goals.
To combat the bitter cold, nearly all players—including Messi—wore gloves, neck warmers, and long socks. While Sporting KC players were used to such conditions, Messi and his Inter Miami teammates, accustomed to Florida’s tropical climate, had to quickly adapt.
Despite the extreme weather, Messi made the difference. Sporting KC coach Peter Vermes admitted it outright: “There was only one player who could change the game, and he did.”
Inter Miami’s coach, Javier Mascherano, kept it simple when asked about Messi’s goal: “Amazing!” He then added, “I’m truly proud. Honestly, playing in these conditions seemed impossible. You all know—Messi is not human. Those who know him understand this is normal. He’s done it a thousand times before. We’re just lucky to have him.”
