Lionel Messi’s July 21 Inter Miami debut proved to be a star-studded affair. Celebrity soccer fans including Serena Williams, Kim Kardashian, LeBron James, and Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham attended the highly anticipated match, which saw Inter Miami facing off against Cruz Azul. Messi’s first match included a game-changing moment thanks to the athlete’s 94th-minute free kick, cinching his team’s 2-1 victory.
The incredible game-winning kick was witnessed by numerous fans, including celebs like Kardashian, who attended the game with her 7-year-old son, Saint West. During an interview with Major League Soccer, the reality-TV star revealed her son has turned her into an avid soccer fan. “He’s obsessed with soccer,” Kardashian explained. “And I will do anything for my babies. So I traveled the world. We do soccer trips. All summer, we’re going to different exhibition games.”
Kardashian went on to reveal she played soccer when she was younger, and she’s glad she and Saint can bond over the game. “I’m happy that my boy loves it, and that we can hang out.” When asked if her son has a favorite player, the answer was Messi, of course. In Kardashian’s Instagram Stories, she revealed that Saint met Messi after the game and even snagged a signed jersey.
Meanwhile, David; his wife, Victoria Beckham; and two of their children, Harper and Cruz, were on hand to celebrate Messi’s first game after he signed with Inter Miami earlier in July. In an interview with the AP, David said Messi has “raised the bar” for soccer in the United States. “When I went on the journey in 2007, and when I started my Miami journey 10 years ago, my vision was exactly what we saw the moment that Leo announced,” he said. “That’s what I wanted to see for the sport.”
Check out the gallery ahead to see photos of the celebrities who attended Messi’s Inter Miami debut.