Lionel Messi Meets Magico Before Inter Miami And El Salvador Draw

Lionel Messi met Magico Gonzales before Inter Miami drew 0-0 with El Salvador in a pre-season friendly in Central America. Luis Suarez made his Miami debut.

Inter Miami kicked off their 2024 pre-season campaign with a 0-0 draw against El Salvador on Friday night.

Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets all played the first 45 minutes for Miami in San Salvador before being subbed off at half-time.

Messi impressed in flashes and would have scored were it not for a brilliant double save by El Salvador keeper Mario Gonzalez.

The Major League Soccer side dominated possession at the Estadio Cuscatlan but El Salvador produced more shots and came closest to winning the game when Steven Vazquez hit the crossbar in the 82nd minute.

Despite El Salvador being the home team, Messimania meant that the majority of local support was for the players wearing black and pink.

Highlights: El Salvador 0-0 Inter Miami

Although Messi failed to produce a Hallmark moment during his 45 minutes of game time, the Miami captain thrilled fans before the match when he shared an embrace with 65-year-old Salvadoran legend Magico Gonzalez on the field.

Magico, whose full name is Jorge Alberto Gonzalez Barillas, is widely considered to be El Salvador's greatest ever player.

Diego Maradona even once said that Gonzalez was greater than himself and Brazil icon Pele.

Un momento MÁGICO 🪄🇸🇻

El Mágico González fue el responsable de realizar el saque inicial previo al encuentro amistoso entre @LaSelecta_SLV e @InterMiamiCF. pic.twitter.com/eSyOZceXn8

— MLS Español (@MLSes) January 20, 2024

📸What a beautiful image. Lionel Messi greeting the great Mágico González before the friendly against El Salvador. And the entire stadium standing, applauding. Don't forget that Maradona once said that El Mágico was the best footballer he ever saw 😍😍 pic.twitter.com/ZSoPiYWlA2

— Messi FC World (@MessiFCWorld) January 20, 2024

Lionel Messi pictured (right) next to El Salvador legend Magico Gonzales at the Estadio Cuscatlan / MLS

Next up for Inter Miami is a friendly game against FC Dallas on Monday.

Messi and Co will then travel to Saudi Arabia for two games, including one against Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr.

The new MLS season will begin on February 21 when Miami and Real Salt Lake clash at DRV PNK Stadium.