Lionel Messi played in 'the coldest game of his career' last night and answered one of the biggest questions of all

Lionel Messi answered a question that has followed his career for decades as he scored for Inter Miami in their CONCACAF Champions Cup first-round clash against Kansas City.

Ahead of kick-off on Wednesday night, it was suggested that the fixture between Inter Miami and Kansas City at Children's Mercy Park could potentially be the coldest match on record.

In fact, CONCACAF postponed the first leg of the first-round game by a day because of "adverse weather conditions" as almost-unbearable wind chills were expected to feel as low as -28C.

There were even rumours stating that Lionel Messi did not want to play in the blistering cold. "Sources have told me that Lionel Messi does not want to play in the blistering cold on Tuesday vs Sporting Kansas City," said journalist Franco Panizo.

But with the temperature at Kansas' home ground registering at a 'real feel' of -9C, the eight-time Ballon d'Or turned up and produced the goods in front of 15,178 fans who braved the freezing conditions.

Messi, wearing a pair of black gloves, scored the only goal of the game in the 55th minute, when he brought down Sergio Busquets' lofted pass with his chest before finishing brilliantly into the bottom left corner.

The FOX Sports commentator was in awe. "Can he do it on a freezing night in Kansas City?" he said, in reference to the age-old "on a cold night in Stoke" debate. "The emphatic answer is yes."

He wasn't the only one. Here's how fans on social media reacted to Messi's performance in the Kansas cold.

One said: "Leo Messi just did this and won his team the game in -20° degree weather. Yeah, I think he could it on a cold night in Stoke after all."

A second wrote: "Can Messi do it on a cold, rainy night in Stoke? Stoke's temperature rarely drops below -4 C, Messi is playing in -13 C. Messi dusting some English fans even after his prime."

MESSI SCORES TO BREAK THE DEADLOCK FOR MIAMI! pic.twitter.com/1JsnQCU5G6

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 20, 2025

A third commented: "We may never know if Lionel Messi can do it on a cold rainy night in Stoke, but he can apparently do it on a freezing night in Kansas City."

A fourth said: "Messi could 100% do it on a cold, rainy night in Stoke btw," and a fifth added: "Messi should have a testimonial at Stoke just for the bants at this point, tbh."

Thoughts on Messi's performance? Let us know in the comments.