Argentine striker Lionel Messi scored Inter Miami’s first goal at Nu Stadium when he found the net in the 10th minute against Austin FC on Saturday in Miami. Photo by Paolo Aguilar/EPA

MIAMI, April 4 (UPI) — Argentine soccer icon Lionel Messi netted Inter Miami’s first goal at Nu Stadium, finding the threads with a header Saturday against Austin FC.

Messi tallied the Herons score in the 10th minute of the matchup in Miami. Thousands of pink clad Herons fans serenaded the striker after he scored the equalizer on opening night of the $350 million stadium.

Left back Guilherme Biro gave the Verde and Black an initial edge in the sixth minute. The Brazilian scored that goal when he beat Herons goalie Dayne St. Clair by heading in a corner kick from Uruguayan winger Facundo Torres.

Less than four minutes later, the Herons’ eight-time Ballon d’Or winner leveled the match. Messi started the play with an entry pass to winger Telasco Segovia, who turned and sent another pass onto Ian Frey.

The right back brought the ball in near the end line and chipped a feed back through the box, finding a hovering Messi.

The Argentine pounced on the chance, smashing the ball into the right side of the net for his fifth goal in five games.

It was ALWAYS going to be him.

Leo Messi scores Miami’s first goal at Nu Stadium and pulls the hosts level! pic.twitter.com/p1mDk5NQk2— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 5, 2026

The game remained level at 1-1 through halftime. The Herons held an edge in possession of 61.1% to 38.9% during that span. They also out-passed the visitors 287-181 through 45 minutes.