Eyes were undoubtedly fixed on Inter Miami’s superstar lineup, but it was FC Dallas’ locally grown striker who quickly took charge in front of the home crowd. Just three minutes into the game, Ferreira scored the opening goal with a composed finish, marking the beginning of his preseason with a clever strike against Messi and his teammates.

Ferreira’s goal remained the sole score of the match, despite Inter Miami largely dominating possession afterward. Tata Martino’s team controlled the game but struggled to create scoring opportunities. Messi had one of their best chances in the first half, but FC Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes made a crucial save. The Argentine attempted an Olimpico, but Paes thwarted him once again.

In the second half, Miami had a few opportunities, with Luis Suarez and Leo Campana coming close, only to have their attempts ruled offside. The trio of Messi, Suarez, and Sergio Busquets, all formerly of Barcelona, played for 64 minutes before being substituted off, following a goalless draw with El Salvador last Friday.

Although Ferreira has faced a decline in the USMNT pecking order, his determination to start the season strongly was evident in his scoring performance. Despite scoring fewer league goals last season (13 compared to 18 the previous year), the 23-year-old forward is widely regarded as one of the best attackers in MLS. The question arises: can he make significant strides this season, benefiting FC Dallas both on and potentially off the field if European clubs show interest?

While concerns haven’t escalated yet, Inter Miami’s attack has struggled in the first two games. Suarez, in particular, has not found his usual form and has encountered difficulty creating chances in the final third. Although it’s anticipated that chemistry will develop, especially with Messi providing support, it’s evident that even the Barca trio needs time to shake off rust before the regular season. Another consideration is whether Martino’s 5-3-2 formation is the most suitable for the current roster, especially considering the successful partnership between Robert Taylor and Messi last season.

Inter Miami’s preseason will now take them to Saudi Arabia for matches against Al-Hilal and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr on January 29 and February 1, respectively. Following these encounters, they will head to Asia to face Hong Kong XI on February 4 and Vissel Kobe on February 7, concluding the preseason with a fixture against Messi’s childhood club, Newell’s Old Boys, on February 15.

Lionel Messi

This season he played in total 6 times for 372 minutes for Major League Soccer.

Lionel Messi scored 1 goal for Inter Miami. He procured two assists. He received no yellow cards and no red cards.

His team is currently 14th in Major League Soccer. In the last match Inter Miami lost 1-0 against Dallas.

Inter Miami performance and stats

It will be Inter Miami ended the league in the 14th position with 34 points.

In the last 34 games, it has won 9 times, drawn 7 times, and lost 18 times. In its last match, Inter Miami lost 1-0 against Charlotte.​​

It has a negative goal difference after scoring 41 goals and conceding 54.​

L. Suárez

This season he played in total 33 times for 2890 minutes for .

L. Suárez scored 17 goals for Grêmio. He procured 12 assists. He received 8 yellow cards and no red cards.

His team is currently 2nd in . In the last match Grêmio won 3-2 against Fluminense.

Grêmio performance and stats

Grêmio is currently 2nd in the with 68 points.

In the last 38 games, it has won 21 times, drawn 5 times, and lost 12 times. In its last match, Grêmio won 2-3 against Fluminense.​​

It has a positive goal difference after scoring 63 goals and conceding 56.​