'I'm a big fan of Cristiano' - Mitja Ilenic explains why he taunted Lionel Messi with Ronaldo celebration against Inter Miami as NYCFC defender realises lifelong dream

After Messi squared to Tomas Aviles to score an early goal for Inter Miami, Ilenic scored a first-half equaliser as his side played out a 2-2 draw in their opening game of the MLS season on Sunday. In his celebration, the 20-year-old copied Ronaldo's famous 'Siu' celebration as the Portugal and Al-Nassr hero's long-time rival Messi watched on.

Ilenic was very happy with himself after pulling off a taunt in front of Messi as he explained his love for the 40-year-old ex-Real Madrid and Manchester United attacker.

"About the celebration, I'm a big fan of Cristiano, to be honest," he said after the game. "That was basically my dream: to do it in front of (Lionel) Messi. I would say it also shows my confidence and I'm super, super happy about it, that it happened today."

NYCFC went ahead 10 minutes into the second half, but Messi helped bail out the Herons when he sent through Telasco Segovia to lift it over goalkeeper Matthew Freese deep in stoppage time. Messi then was seen in a heated argument with the referee and grabbed one of NYCFC's coaches by the neck in a fiery end to the match.

Messi scored the only goal of the game as his side beat Sporting Kansas City in the first leg of their Champions Cup tie this week, and will hope to fire his team into the next round when they meet again on Tuesday.