Lionel Andreas Messi is in South Florida finalizing his sensational move to Major League Soccer.
He has been on vacation in the Caribbean with his wife Antonela and their three sons. Tuesday afternoon, Miami fans gathered outside the team’s DRV PNK Stadium to celebrate the historic move, and the family was photographed there.
The 36-year-old World Cup champion from Argentina will make his formal debut against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup on Thursday, July 21, after being officially introduced by Miami on Sunday night.
He’s been on vacation in the Caribbean with his wife Antonela and their three boys. On Tuesday afternoon, the family was photographed at Miami International Airport, as Miami supporters gathered outside the team’s DRV PNK Stadium to celebrate the historic move.
On Sunday night, Miami will formally debut the forward. The world champion will make his Leagues Cup debut against Cruz Azul on Thursday, July 21.
‘My mindset and my head are not going to change, and I am going to attempt, wherever I have to be, to give my best for myself and my new club, to continue to play at the top level,’ Messi said on Argentina television, according to ESPN.
Regarding his family’s relocation to the United States, he said, “We are very happy with the choice we made.”
“I’m eager and prepared to face the new challenge of change.”
Messi’s arrival in Major League Soccer is likely to pick the sport to new heights in the United States. Sergio Busquets, a former Barcelona teammate, has already joined him in Miami.
Lionel Messi Returns to America!
Messi returns in America as a World Cup winner, having led Argentina to victory in Qatar last year. It was Argentina’s first World Cup victory since 1986, and it was the pinnacle of Messi’s international career.
The Miami Heat are in desperate need of a top player. The team is presently last in the MLS Eastern Conference. They hasn’t won in ten games, and is eight points out of the playoffs.
And with a game against the Western Conference’s top club, St. Louis, on Saturday night, things might get worse before they get better.
In that game, new Miami coach Tata Martino, who previously coached Messi at Barcelona, will take command for the first time.
Defender Jordi Alba, another ex-Barcelona colleague, is about to join Miami in yet another interesting move by the organization.
Miami is apparently keeping interest in recruiting free agent Sergio Ramos. Ramos who also left PSG this summer when his contract expired.
Ramos and Messi were fierce foes as Real Madrid and Barcelona figureheads before becoming unexpected colleagues in France.
Messi’s presence also caps off what should be a great few years for American soccer.
The country will co-host the 2026 World Cup with Mexico and Canada after hosting the Copa America in 2024.
