Messi dedicates his first Miami goal to 20 year old teammate

Lionel Messi dedicated the 2-1 victory over Cruz Azul in his Inter Miami debut to his injured team-mate Ian Frey. The Argentine got the win for his new team with a goal from a free kick in the 94th minute, while defender Frei was substituted in the first half due to injury.

“I want to dedicate this victory to Ian Frey, who is now suffering in the dressing room. He came back to play after two serious injuries, and now he’s injured again,” Messi said immediately after the match.

Leo Messi: “Let me dedicate this victory to Ian Fray (Inter Miami teammate) who was suffering in the locker room from the injury he sustained. He comes from two serious injuries and today he has the bad luck to go through an injury again.” pic.twitter.com/5idgnXJiqy

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Frey, 20, has been dogged by injuries over the past two years. Against Cruz Azul, he returned after two serious injuries that saw him miss a total of 84 Inter Miami matches. During the match last night, in the 30th minute, he fell to the grass without making contact with an opponent and left the field with tears in his eyes. He has an older sister, Marlee Frey, who is also a soccer player and plays for the Jamaican national team.