Nearly 45,000 at Yankee Stadium watched NYCFC stun Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in the final seconds of stoppage time.

Lionel Messi will play his third match since returning from his injury as Inter Miami visits New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Saturday.

The game drew 44,738 to Yankee Stadium, the second-highest total in NYFC history. The clubs played to 1-1 draw in Miami on March 30. Inter Miami started the day eight points ahead of next-closest team in Supporters’ Shield race with four matches left.

Inter Miami's charge towards MLS's single-season points record suffered a setback on Saturday after a last-gasp equalizer snatched a 1-1 draw for NYCFC.

Lionel Messi is Big Apple-bound. On Saturday, Sept. 21, his Inter Miami CF swoops into The Bronx to take on the New York City FC at their home Yankee Stadium. Coming into the match, Inter Miami CF leads the MLS’ Eastern Conference with an impressive 19-5-4 record;

Yankee Stadium will be open to full capacity for the first time since 2016 for the New York City FC game against Miami on Saturday afternoon in anticipation of the Argentine star, who returned to action last week after a long injury layoff. A crowd of more than 40,000 is expected in the Bronx, which would be nearly double the season average.

Inter Miami head coach Gerardo Martino claimed the match against New York City FC at Yankee Stadium "lacked a good referee" after a heated contest resulted in a 1-1 draw at Yankee Stadium Saturday.

James Sands recorded his first MLS goal for New York City FC during stoppage time to help his team salvage a point with a 1-1 draw with Lionel Messi-led Inter Miami on Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium.