Whether it's meeting celebrities on the sideline or celebrating with his family, the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner looks to be loving life in Florida
The first thing Lionel Messi did after scoring was hug his kids. Never mind his adulate team-mates, the screaming fans or the celebrities that lined the field, filming every moment. Messi, having just curled in a majestic free-kick in stoppage-time to seal victory on his Inter Miami debut, was keen to share a moment with his family.
Everything felt pre-ordained last Friday at DRV PNK Stadium, which is, disappointingly, some 45 minutes from Miami. Messi entered the game against Cruz Azul in the second half, with the scores level but his new side being increasingly outplayed. Everything for the next 35 minutes went as smoothly as it possibly could've. Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender pulled off a string of diving stops, while fellow debutant Sergio Busquets got away with a few fouls.
Inevitably, in the 93rd minute, Messi was handed his moment. He was hacked down, just to the left of the goal, and about 25 yards out. The problem with fouling Messi in that spot is that he's scored this goal countless times before. He knows the exact curve, zip, and dip of the ball. This isn't calculation as much as muscle memory at this point.
Of course, the 36-year-old's left foot delivered, sending the stadium into raptures, and marking the Argentine's arrival into American soccer in perfect fashion. There aren't enough heart-warming moments in football, especially when big-money, big-brand players are involved. Everything feels too flashy, too curated. But that second, that free-kick, was absolutely perfect.
And so starts the Messi years in Miami. They may not be that successful on the pitch for the Argentine, despite his electric start. They may not even be particularly watchable all the time. But for those who tune in, as well as for the man himself, they will be immensely fun.
Getty ImagesTwo years of Parisian misery
Messi's time at Paris Saint-Germain was becoming a bore towards the end. It was clear even before the 2022 World Cup that he wasn't totally into the project. He had one eye on Qatar, and although he continued to deliver in moments, lacked that signature presence that had made him the best in the world at Barcelona. The spark was there — free-kicks, curled efforts, assists — but the fire — constant movement, mazy dribbles — was nowhere to be found.
The boos rained down on the Argentine as early as February, the winger inexplicably blamed for PSG's failures in Europe — never mind that it was defensive errors that saw them exit the Champions League. Such anger saw the Messi experience in Paris soured. Here was the greatest of all time, handed a new opportunity after being forced out of his old club, being booed by his own fans.
Messi, it must be said, wasn't always above blame. At times, he could certainly be criticised for his effort — or lack thereof. There was also a certain carelessness to his play, fuel for the body language professors of social media. But this was Messi, who, in the worst period of his career, scored 22 and assisted 33 in 58 games. What more could PSG fans actually ask for?
It has since emerged that Messi was miserable in the French capital. He admitted that his family never really took to the city, and suggested that it was never a comfortable environment. He unsurprisingly revealed that he had never wanted to leave Barcelona. It was, effectively, a two-year devolution, 24 months of legacy tainting.
AdvertisementGetty/GOALThe joy of Miami
And now for revival. The World Cup win certainly helped, with Messi securing the only trophy missing from his collection to silence what few detractors he had. The Argentine certainly didn't do it all alone, but the 'GOAT' obsessives of Twitter were left short of ammunition. It also left the Argentine's career open, a final few years to do exactly what he pleased. Miami wasn't his first choice — he wanted to go back to Barcelona — but it might just be the most entertaining one.
Since officially pledging his future to Inter Miami on an initial 18-month contract, Messi has gone about making this whole thing as fun as possible. It started with a few phone calls to old friends. Busquets was the first to pick up, signing for the club shortly after Messi. Jordi Alba was next, and is set to join the team at some point within the next week.
Luis Suarez is reportedly in the pipeline, albeit any move won't happen until the end of 2023 after Gremio rejected Miami's bid to bring him in midway through the Brazilian season. And, perhaps most improbably, Andres Iniesta has been linked. The Spaniard has repeatedly refuted claims that he will move elsewhere after his contract expired at Japanese side Vissel Kobe, but the 39-year-old did claim in his final interview with the club that he wanted to continue his career elsewhere.
Does the world really need to see half of Barcelona's 2015 treble-winning side reunited, almost eight years later? Perhaps not. The football will not be as good; it simply can't be. But if this is to be Messi's swansong, why can't it be that of others, too?
Suarez's days in football are numbered, at this point. Alba is no longer good enough for Spain's top flight. Iniesta pledged to make Vissel the biggest team in Asia when he joined the club, an endeavour he failed in. But what better way to forget that than kicking a ball around with some of your old friends in the United States?
This won't all be smooth. All five, if they all do end up in Miami, won't be able to play every game together, and there will be times when they are outrun by younger legs. Still, it will always be an event, a feel-good 90 minutes, two hours of pure footballing vibes. And maybe that's just what Messi, and his old team-mates, deserve.
GettyNo pressure to win
In his farewell interview from PSG, Messi spoke extensively on the pressure of playing for the club. it was clear to see from the outside, too. Every step was questioned, every pass queried. If PSG lost, or dropped points — something they did a lot under Christophe Galtier — the Argentine was the first to be berated by the fans.
Barca was supposed to be the peak of Messi's footballing pressure, the city that had raised him expecting him to deliver. But that was always accepted due to Messi's attachment to the badge — and unwavering love from the fans. If Messi failed at Barcelona, he was still loved, because he cared. But at PSG, that constant intensity was there without unconditional adulation, and it clearly took a toll. Messi was visibly unhappy by the end of his tenure in Paris.
Now, though, there isn't any pressure. The Argentine can be as successful or miserable as he wants. Miami could win every game 5-0, or lose it 3-1. Messi is here to be watched, not to be judged. He is, in effect, too big to be criticised by the forum of American soccer and MLS. It helps, too, that Miami are, objectively, a bad football team. They are currently last in MLS' Eastern Conference, and 12 points off a playoff spot.
This is remarkable, not least because the league has restructured its playoff format, allowing over half of each conference into the postseason. It is, at this point, easier to make the playoffs than miss them. Messi arrives in Miami, then, to a team that has very few expectations to live up to. Miami will likely need to win at least nine of their final 12 games — a tall order considering they have only won five MLS contests all season.
Even a dramatic turnaround in form could lead them to falling outside of contention. Messi, then, can be as spellbinding or lazy as he wants. If he leads Miami to the playoffs, it will be another classic Messi-ism, a reiteration of his GOAT status. Should he fail, it will be via a valiant effort. So what if he couldn't drag the last-placed team into a playoff spot? Messi has spent his whole career playing under immense scrutiny. Now, he can effectively vibe his way through a season.
A celebrity environment
Kim Kardashian got the first photo. Lebron James got a hug. Then, it was DJ Khaled, followed by Diddy and Camila Cabello. All of them have had exclusive access, too. Kardashian took pictures on the pitch before Messi's debut. LeBron barged in from his suite right next to the Inter Miami bench. DJ Khaled somehow snuck into the tunnel, yelling at Messi amidst a sea of visibly confused young mascots.
This is the environment Messi has cultivated through two relatively meaningless games so far. The Leagues Cup is not relevant to Miami's MLS playoff charge. Still, Messi, by his very attendance, has assembled a group of A-Listers usually reserved for red carpets, turning these games into celebrity events. DRV PNK Stadium, once a meagre set of bleachers 45 minutes from Miami itself, is now a place where people go to be seen.
It's slightly ironic for Messi. Here is a player who hates the spotlight, but has always attracted it by virtue of being very good at what he does. At his age, there is nothing outwardly flashy about Messi's game. He has become a real football fan's footballer, ruthlessly efficient in his majesty. There is no wasted energy here, no extra stepovers, unnecessary flicks. That almost runs counter to Miami's history of flashy athletes (see James, Lebron for more.) It is also an extension of the reason that Messi wanted out of PSG. He wanted the cameras to go away.
However, this time, there is no menace from behind the lens. Lebron won't boo him. DJ Khaled won't jeer. He will not be trolled by Kim K on Twitter if Miami lose. There are eyes here, but they're ones of adulation. Messi has basically assembled a party in Miami, without outwardly meaning to.