There were some well-known faces in the crowd for Lionel Messi’s debut as an Inter Miami player.

Tickets for Friday’s League Cup match against Mexico’s Cruz Azul were in high demand, with fans eager to see Messi in action for the first time since his free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain.

However, basketball legend LeBron James, tennis legend Serena Williams, and social media star Kim Kardashian all made it into DRV PNK Stadium.

James and Messi were seen hugging before the game.

LeBron James (left) embraces Lionel Messi ahead of the football star’s Inter Miami debut.

Saint West, Kardashian’s seven-year-old son, accompanied her to the game.

Before the game, she told Apple TV, “My son is obsessed with soccer, and I will do anything for my babies.” So I’ve travelled around the world, and we go on football trips.”

Kardashian then claimed to have “played football for five or six years.”

“I was a goalie and a center-forward,” she added. “I wasn’t too bad.”

Victoria Beckham, wife of Inter Miami president David Beckham, was also present at the game.

Fans had to wait as Messi and fellow summer signing Sergio Busquets started the game on the bench.