The Lionel Messi North American era begins Friday when the forward’s new team Inter Miami CF faces Cruz Azul in Leauges Cup action at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The match begins at 8 p.m. ET (MLS Season Pass on Apple TV/Univision and FUBO TV). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Cruz Azul vs. Inter Miami odds, and make our best soccer bets, picks and predictions.
Cruz Azul of the Mexican Liga BBVA MX will be glad to get a respite from the Torneo Apertura. It’s off to an 0-3 start to open the new Liga MX season, and it has been outscored 6-1, ranking last in the league in goal differential.
Inter Miami is almost in the same boat, sitting 2nd to last in the MLS’ Eastern Conference with a 5-14-3 (W-L-D) record. Miami is also 2nd to last in goal differential at -14.
Keeping his promise to make Inter Miami relevant — and bring “the greatest players in the world to [Miami]” — team president and co-owner David Beckham helped the club sign Messi to a 2.5-year contract that will pay the recent World Cup winner from Argentina between $50 million and $60 million annually.