Lionel Messi finds the net in Major League Soccer debut

"I just catch myself watching him instead of picking up on my assignment," Miami defender Kamal Miller said. 

"It's tough to stay focused when you have such a great presence."

Messi entered in the 60th minute along with former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquests. 

Miami had gone ahead on a 37th-minute goal by Diego Gómez in a build-up started by Jordi Alba, another Barcelona alum on a night Miami gave six players MLS debuts.

Chants of "We Want Messi!" began in the sixth minute and a loud "Mes-si!" "Mes-si!" reverberated throughout in the 35th.

Forty-eight years after Pelé joined the North American Soccer League's New York Cosmos in an effort to jump-start soccer in the United States, Messi followed David Beckham, Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimović in the bid to boost MLS closer to the more popular US leagues.

A record crowd of 26,276 arrived at Red Bull Arena in the Red Bulls' first home sellout this season, and resale tickets were listed for more than $US1000 ($A1560) leading to the game.

Messi failed to score in his La Liga and Ligue 1 debuts. 

Anticipation was high when the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner took a free kick from 21 yards in the 88th minute, but it was blocked by the defensive wall.

After Miami kept control in midfield, Busquets sent a cross to Alba just inside the penalty area and with his back to the ground and left leg raised, Alba used the side of his foot to centre the ball to Messi.

The 36-year-old star settled the ball to keep it from defender Peter Stroud, dribbled to his right and threaded a pass between Andrés Reyes and Daniel Edelman to 18-year-old American Benjamin Cremaschi.

As goalkeeper Carlos Coronel moved to cover his near post, Cremaschi beat defender John Tolkin and one-touched the ball back to Messi. 

He sprinted toward goal and let it bounce off his left foot and into the unguarded net from 3 yards for his 11th goal in nine games for Miami in all competitions.