The second edition of the Messi Cup opened with Argentine invitees Boca Juniors and Newell’s Old Boys securing dominant victories, while River Plate played to a scoreless draw watched from the stands by Lionel Messi at Chase Stadium.
Boca Juniors and Newell’s Secure Opening Wins
Boca Juniors delivered a 3-0 victory against Manchester City in their Group D debut, powered by goals from Tiziano Sánchez, Elián Rocha, and Benjamín Di Risio. In Group B, Newell’s Old Boys defeated Arsenal 1-0 thanks to a decisive strike by Jeremías Suárez. Meanwhile, River Plate settled for a 0-0 draw against Chelsea in Group A during the evening fixture, an encounter controlled largely by the English side as Messi observed from the executive boxes at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Tournament Format Splits Clubs into Two Divisions
The 16-invited-club tournament splits competitors into four groups of four teams each. Group matches consist of two 30-minute halves, while semifinals and finals extend to two 35-minute halves. The top two finishers from each group advance to the Gold Cup Division, whereas third- and fourth-place teams move into the Silver Cup Division. This structure guarantees every participating squad an equal number of matches throughout the competition.
Opening Day Results Across Groups
Sunday’s opening fixtures established early group standings across the tournament:
- Group A: Ajax 2, Inter 1
- Group A: River Plate 0, Chelsea 0
- Group B: Barcelona 0, Palmeiras 2
- Group B: Arsenal 0, Newell’s Old Boys 1
- Group C: Independiente del Valle 1, Inter Miami 2
- Group C: Atlético de Madrid 2, Benfica 0
- Group D: Manchester City 0, Boca Juniors 3
- Group D: Flamengo 0, UE Cornellà 0
Upcoming Group Stage Fixtures
The tournament schedule continues with the second round of group matches set for Monday, featuring River Plate against Ajax in Group A and Manchester City facing Flamengo in Group D. The third and final round of group play concludes on Tuesday ahead of the divisional knockout rounds.
