Lionel Messi was photographed in practice appearing calm and relaxed, just a day before Inter Miami’s League Cup quarterfinal match against MLS rivals Charlotte FC, as club co-owner David Beckham looked on.
On Thursday, the 36-year-old was put through his paces alongside his teammates at Florida Blue Training Center, and he even cracked a smile while conversing with the team’s relatively new left-back Jordi Alba and striker Josef Martinez.
Since going to America last month, Messi has been outstanding, scoring seven goals and assisting once in three games for the Herons, though all of his contributions have come in the Leagues Cup.
As a result of Miami’s surprising deep run in the US domestic cup, which only comprises Liga MX and MLS teams, the 2022 World Cup champion will have to wait a little longer before making his MLS debut.
Messi was set to make his league debut, ironically against Charlotte, at DRV PNK Stadium on August 20, but the game has been postponed. The game’s new date has yet to be confirmed.
Lionel Messi trains during Miami’s practice session at Florida Blue Training Center on Thursday
Co-owner of the Herons, David Beckham, watches Messi and his teammates from the sidelines
Messi, left, was put through his paces along with long-time club teammate Jordi Alba, right
Messi, right, smiled as he stood alongside striker Jose Martinez and Alba, left.
Messi’s debut MLS match is now scheduled for August 26 in Harrison, New Jersey, against the New York Red Bulls.
Earlier this week, Messi divided fans around the world after footage showed the Argentine moving the angle of the ball with the referee’s back turned before scoring a free kick against FC Dallas to tie Inter Miami in a penalty shootout win in the League Cup’s round of 16 after both sides drew 4-4 at the end of regulation.
Furthermore, two days after his team’s most recent victory on August 6, the Argentine was photographed visiting a buddy in Fort Lauderdale with his wife, Antonela, who is also his childhood sweetheart, while they both took a break from house-hunting in Magic City.
The Argentine FA also hailed Messi for his scorching start in America this week, with the country’s soccer federation saluting its all-time leading scorer with 103 goals with an emotive video that read: ‘They say that in the United States you can see aliens.’
Messi has scored seven goals in three starts for Inter Miami since his arrival at the club in July
Messi’s MLS debut was postponed to later this month after Miami’s deep run Leagues Cup run
Messi, 36, took a water break during Thursday’s practice as he’s still adjusting to Florida heat
THUMBS UP IF YOU ENJOY LIFE: Messi appeared to be in a good mood throughout training on Thursday.
Inter Miami has gone undefeated since Messi’s debut last month, going 4-0 after going winless in nine consecutive MLS matches before the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner announced his departure from Europe this summer.
Messi joined Miami in July after spending two years with Paris Saint-Germain.
Messi has more over 700 career goals in his more than 17-year tenure with FC Barcelona.
He agreed to terms with Inter Miami on a two-and-a-half-year contract for between $50 million and $60 million per year.
The monetary value of the transaction is believed to be between $125M and $150M.
