Argentine World cup winner and Inter Miami new signing Lionel Messi says is excited to start his career at the club with a victory and a debut goal.

His comments came after the former Barca and PSG Star scored a  stoppage-time free-kick on his Inter Miami debut to clinch a 2-1 victory against Mexican side Cruz Azul.

Messi' strike came in on the fourth minute of added time as his Major League Soccer side won the Leagues Cup tie.

"It is a huge joy to get this first victory after how we have done in the league".

"It is important to start winning, beyond the fact that it is another championship, for confidence it is very good to get victories". Messi said.

The game at 20,000-capacity DRV PNK Stadium saw celebrities like basketball's LeBron James, tennis legend Serena Williams and US TV star Kim Kardashian among the crowd.

The Argentine playing his first game for a non-European club side, was joined by former Barca team-mate Sergio Busquets who came on as part of a 54th-minute triple substitution.

Messi was unveiled by the team on Sunday after moving to the MLS at the end of his contract at Paris St-Germain.

He scored 32 goals in 75 games with the French champions after leaving Barcelona.

The win in the league cup a competition between MLS and Mexico's LIGA MX team offers a new start for Inter Miami, who are bottom of the MLS table without a win in 11 games.

Leagues Cup is a new North American tournament in which MLS and LIGA MX will pause their respective league seasons from July 21 to August 19 to determine the three clubs that will qualify for the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup. All 47 first division clubs in Canada, Mexico and the US compete in the World Cup-style, official Concacaf tournament. Inter Miami will in Four days time host Atlanta United in their second match of the Leagues Cup competition.