Lionel Messi has ‘magnificent’ free-kick blocked on the LINE by header as Inter Miami claim 2-0 win in first game of MLS season… with fans joking Real Salt Lake were ‘playing like in FIFA’ with men on the line to deny him

Lionel Messi had a fantastic free-kick blocked on the line by a defender as Inter Miami opened the MLS season with a 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake. 

The Argentine’s effort from 25 yards was destined for the top corner but defender Justen Glad was on hand to bop it away. 

Miami opened their MLS account in style as goals from Robert Taylor and Diego Gomez sealed the victory.

However Messi was thwarted and a collective ‘ooh’ rose from the crowd as their favourite player was denied a first goal of the season.

It would have been reminiscent of his free-kick goal on his debut, when he fired a 94th-minute winner from a similar distance to gain a 2-1 win over Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup. 

‘This is magnificent,’ said one user on X, formerly Twitter. 

‘So they are playing like in Fifa… good strategy to be fair to put 3 GK to defend a Messi free-kick,’ said another. 

‘2 defenders on the line for Messi, not even European clubs did that,’ wrote another. 

‘Defending like that against the goat [greatest of all time] is crazy,’ one said.  

This was only Inter Miami’s second win in 16 games stretching back to last season and including friendlies.

The Herons endured a nightmare pre-season and Messi had to sit some of it out with injury issues. 

Two Argentina friendlies were even cancelled in China after Messi sat out a match against a Hong Kong league XI. 

But Messi played the full game against Real Salt Lake as Tata Martino’s side brushed off the cobwebs.   

More to follow.