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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Ilenic scored against Messi's Miami</li><li>Copied Ronaldo's 'Siu' celebration</li><li>Said the taunt was a 'dream'</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

'I'm a big fan of Cristiano' - Mitja Ilenic explains why he taunted Lionel Messi with Ronaldo celebration against Inter Miami as NYCFC defender realises lifelong dream

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Inter Miami CF

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New York City FC

<p>After Messi squared to Tomas Aviles to score an early goal for Inter Miami, Ilenic scored a first-half equaliser as his side played out <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-records-two-assists-as-10-man-inter-miami-steals-late-point-vs-nycfc-in-2025-mls-opener/blt22f5c14f80b4d4f0" target="_blank">a 2-2 draw in their opening game of the MLS season</a> on Sunday. In his celebration, the 20-year-old copied Ronaldo's famous 'Siu' celebration as the Portugal and Al-Nassr hero's long-time rival Messi watched on.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Ilenic was very happy with himself after pulling off a taunt in front of Messi as he explained his love for the 40-year-old ex-Real Madrid and Manchester United attacker. </p><p>"About the celebration, I'm a big fan of Cristiano, to be honest," he said after the game. "That was basically my dream: to do it in front of (Lionel) Messi. I would say it also shows my confidence and I'm super, super happy about it, that it happened today."</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">👀 New York City FC defender Mitja Ilenic on his Siuuu goal-scoring celebration vs. Inter Miami:<br><br>"I'm a big fan of Cristiano (Ronaldo), to be honest.<br><br>"That was basically my dream: to do it in front of (Lionel) Messi."<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InterMiamiCF?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#InterMiamiCF</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Messi%F0%93%83%B5?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Messi𓃵</a> <a href="https://t.co/Vl7QACivju">pic.twitter.com/Vl7QACivju</a></p>— Franco Panizo (@FrancoPanizo) <a href="https://twitter.com/FrancoPanizo/status/1893751080539848756?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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WHAT ILENIC SAID

<p>NYCFC went ahead 10 minutes into the second half, but Messi helped bail out the Herons when he sent through Telasco Segovia to lift it over goalkeeper Matthew Freese deep in stoppage time. Messi then was seen in a heated <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/video-furious-messi-grabs-opposition-coach-neck-argues-referee-inter-miami-dramatic-draw-2025-mls-season-opener/blt1bceab90335cee19" target="_blank">argument with the referee and grabbed one of NYCFC's coaches by the neck</a> in a fiery end to the match.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Messi scored the only goal of the game as his side beat Sporting Kansas City in the first leg of their Champions Cup tie this week, and will hope to fire his team into the next round when they meet again on Tuesday.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?

'I'm a big fan of Cristiano' - Mitja Ilenic explains why he taunted Lionel Messi with Ronaldo celebration against Inter Miami as NYCFC defender realises lifelong dream | Goal.com

New York City defender Mitja Ilenic made a dream come true when he performed Cristiano Ronaldo&apos;s celebration in the presence of Lionel Messi.

&apos;I&apos;m a big fan of Cristiano&apos; - Mitja Ilenic explains why he taunted Lionel Messi with Ronaldo celebration against Inter Miami as NYCFC defender realises lifelong dream

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