'It is not human' - Inter Miami boss Javier Mascherano stunned by freezing temperatures in Kansas during Champions Cup win as Lionel Messi nets first competitive goal of 2025

The Herons saw the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup clash with Sporting KC postponed by 24 hours due to forecasts of heavy snowfall. The game did eventually go ahead, but temperatures dipped to five degrees Fahrenheit (-15C) by kick-off, with wind chill making it feel like -5 degrees Fahrenheit (-20C).

The mercury dipped even further to what felt like -8 degrees Fahrenheit (-22C) during the game, with both sets of players having to contend with frigid conditions that made putting on a show difficult. Mascherano was among those left freezing on the bench.

Inter Miami’s Argentine coach told reporters after seeing his side collect a hard-fought 1-0 win: “I'm very proud because I think it's impossible to play in these conditions. It is not human, you know, so I'm very proud because they gave me 100% with intensity, with a lot of attitude, so we are happy. We are in the half-time of the qualifiers, so now try to rest after a very difficult game for us.”

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, who faced reports of wanting to skip the game at one stage, netted the only goal of the game in Kansas – his first competitive strike of 2025. Mascherano added on the all-time great stepping up again in an hour of need: “Fantastic [goal], I think maybe for the people that know him, it's normal because he did things like this or goals like this 1,000 times, but we are very lucky to have him in our team.”

The return leg of Inter Miami’s clash with Sporting KC will take place in the slightly warmer surrounds of South Florida on February 25. Prior to that, the Herons will get their MLS campaign up and running at home to New York City on Saturday.