As the players walked onto the pitch, lining up and exchanging handshakes, the air was thick with excitement.
The commentators' voices carried through the stadium, running through the lineups with their usual energy.
"Let's start with the home side — Inter Miami," one of them announced.
"Ustari keeps the goal tonight.
Allen and Avilés form the center-back pairing, with Alba and Weigandt out wide as full-backs.
In midfield, it's the trio of Busquets, Ruiz, and Cremaschi.
Up front, Messi and Picault will operate on the wings, supporting Luis Suárez as the main man through the middle.
Coach Javier Mascherano sets them up in a 4-3-3 — Messi starting from the right-hand side."
They moved on quickly.
"For Palmeiras — the Brazilian giants — Weverton stands between the posts.
Gomez and Murilo are the center-halves, with Khellven and Jefte as full-backs.
Moreno and Martinez sit deep as a double pivot, while the 15-year-old wonderkid Gabriel Silver plays just ahead of them in the number ten role.
Lopez and Raphael occupy the wings, and Vitor Roque leads the line. They'll line up in a 4-2-3-1."
The commentators couldn't help but discuss the surprise inclusion.
"I have to say, I'm shocked to see Gabriel Silver starting," said one.
"I thought he'd come off the bench later on — maybe it's just because it's pre-season?"
The other replied, "Could be. Or maybe he's earned it in training.
Either way, we'll see tonight what this kid is made of."
The stadium was buzzing. Inter Miami fans filled the stands with pink and black, chanting Messi's name, waving banners, scarves, and phones high in the air.
For Gabriel, though, it was like stepping into another world. Everywhere he looked, the focus was on Messi.
Only a few Palmeiras supporters could be seen singing, their voices drowned out by the sea of Miami noise.
But Gabriel wasn't there to listen. He was there to play — and to make them remember his name.
The referee glanced at his watch, raised the whistle to his lips — and with a sharp blast, the match was on.
Kick-off
Vitor Roque tapped the ball backward to Gabriel, who immediately sent it all the way back to Weverton.
The keeper waited, teasing the press, before playing it short to Gomez. Gomez pushed it into midfield for Martinez, who stayed calm, scanning for options.
He spotted Lopez making a run down the left and pinged a long pass, but it drifted too far and went out for a throw-in.
Alba took it quickly for Miami — to Cremaschi, back to Alba, then Busquets, who rolled it out wide to Messi.
Messi tried to cut inside, but Jefte was sharp, closing him down.
Forced backward, Messi laid it off to Ruiz to rebuild. Ruiz tried to dribble past Moreno, but the pressure was relentless — Moreno nicked the ball and quickly passed to Gabriel Silver.
The young midfielder lifted his head, scanned the pitch, and slipped the ball wide to Raphael Veiga.
Veiga darted into the box and fired — but Alba slid in to block, sending it out for a corner.
Lopez trotted over to take it, whipping the ball into the penalty area.
Gomez rose highest — but his header flew just over the crossbar. Goal kick, Inter Miami.
Twenty minutes in, the score was still 0–0. The commentator's voice cut through the tension:
"Palmeiras have been the better side so far — Miami haven't really found their rhythm yet. Let's see if they can grow into the game."
Moments later, Messi picked up the ball on the right, swung a cross into the area —
GOAL!
Picault met it with a glancing header across goal, and there was Luis Suárez, waiting at the back post to poke it home! 1–0 Inter Miami.
The stadium exploded — fans screaming, flags waving, some jumping and hugging, others pounding their chests and kissing the club badge.
On the touchline, Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira clapped his hands and urged his players forward.
Now chasing the game, Palmeiras pushed higher, trying to hit back before the break.
Miami settled into a spell of possession, knocking the ball around calmly.
But Gabriel Silver wasn't done yet.
He picked up the ball in midfield, darted past two defenders with quick feet, and unleashed a fierce shot from outside the box — only for Ustari to dive low and push it away. Corner Palmeiras.
Abel shouted instructions from the sideline, his voice echoing over the noise.
Lopez swung it in, but Miami cleared their lines again.
Still, the young Gabriel was everywhere — running, tackling, creating chances.
He received another pass from Martinez, took a touch, and let fly from distance — this time, right at Ustari, who caught it easily.
Miami countered fast — Ustari threw the ball out to Busquets, who threaded a through pass to Messi.
The Argentine maestro tried a delicate lob over Weverton, but it crashed against the right post and was cleared by Gomez.
The clearance turned into a long ball forward, and suddenly Gabriel Silver was on it again. He ran into space, one against three defenders.
Roque sprinted up beside him. Gabriel slipped the ball through to him —
GOAL!
Equalizer! Palmeiras back in it!
A beautiful move from the youngster, unselfish and perfectly timed. Roque finished it calmly, and Abel Ferreira was overjoyed — hugging his assistant and applauding his teenage star.
Moments later, the referee blew the whistle for halftime.
1–1 at the break.
Both teams walked toward the dressing rooms, but Abel and his men were already smiling — they knew they had something special in the making.