Inter Miami vs. Cruz Azul Leagues Cup soccer odds, props: Lionel Messi favored to score goal in historic MLS debut Friday

On June 15, 1975, the legendary Pele debuted with the New York Cosmos at Downing Stadium on Randall's Island in New York in an exhibition match against the Dallas Tornado. The Brazilian superstar scored in a 2-2 draw. That ushered in a new era of American soccer, and the same could be said Friday night as arguably the best player in the world since Pele, Lionel Messi, makes his Major League Soccer debut with Inter Miami in a Leagues Cup match against Mexican side Cruz Azul in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Messi is the -125 favorite at DraftKings as an anytime goalscorer and +300 leader as first scorer. Click here for expert picks.

The Leagues Cup is an competition between teams from MLS and Liga MX, the top league in Mexico. It used to be small but for the first time will include will include all MLS and Liga MX teams – 47 total. The two leagues are pausing their respective seasons until Aug. 19 to determine the three clubs that will qualify for the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup.

Group stage play begins Friday and continues through July 31, with the top two teams in each group (three points for a win, one for a draw) advancing to the knockout round. Most of the groups have two MLS teams and one from Liga MX. Atlanta United FC is in the same group with Inter Miami and Cruz Azul.

Earlier this week, Messi, a seven-time Ballon d'Or recipient as the world's best player, officially signed a 2 1/2 year contract that will pay him between $50 million-$60 million per year with Inter Miami. He won the Golden Ball at the 2022 World Cup, leading Argentina to the title and will become the first World Cup Golden Ball winner to play in MLS. Messi is the only player to win the award twice (2014, 2022). In the 2022 World Cup, he had seven goals in seven matches to lead Argentina to its first title since Diego Maradona's memorable 1986 club.

Messi has also won three UEFA Men's Player of the Year Awards, six European Golden Shoes, six La Liga Best Player recognitions, eight Pichichi Trophies (top goalscorer of La Liga) and 15 Argentine Footballer of the Year awards. The 36-year-old holds the record for most goals scored in a calendar year with 91 in 2012. He also holds the records for the most goals in Europe's top five leagues (496), most La Liga goals (474) and many Champions League goalscoring records. Messi will be joined in his MLS debut by another fairly significant new signing, Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets.

Cruz Azul has lost all three Liga MX matches so far this season. Los Cementeros are one of Liga MX's Big Four teams along with Club America, Pumas and Chivas. Winger Uriel Antuna and midfielder Carlos Rodríguez recently returned from international duty after winning the Gold Cup with Mexico.

Inter Miami is +125 to win the match with Cruz Azul at +215 and a draw at +250. That Messi scores and Inter Miami wins is +200. That he scores and the match ends in a draw is +750, and that he does in a loss is +1200.

The previous biggest MLS debut was by former England star David Beckham, now part owner of Inter Miami. He should be in attendance Friday. Beckham came on as a substitute in his 2007 first match with the L.A. Galaxy and didn't score. Memorably, Zlatan Ibrahimovic had two goals in his MLS debut, also with the Galaxy in 2010. 

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