Lionel Messi was greeted by an overenthusiastic fan as he was mobbed by supporters and reporters while out for dinner at a Miami restaurant Wednesday night.
Messi mania has well and truly hit the United States as soccer fans continued to roll out the warm welcome for the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner ahead of his imminent MLS move to Inter Miami being officially confirmed.
The meal comes amid a busy week for Messi, who is expected to be officially unveiled this week, as he is believed to have undergone a medical Wednesday and met his new teammates while attending Inter Miami training Thursday, according to ESPN.
Messi attempted to leave Italian restaurant Cafe Prima Pasta in Miami Beach through the back door with his family, wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their three sons, Mateo, Thiago and Ciro, while his dad Jorge also appeared to be with them.
But even with his sneaky exit and the attempts of owner Gerardo Cea to move the crowd back, 36-year-old Messi was instantly swarmed by fans asking for photos and autographs.
Lionel Messi was kissed on the cheek as he left a Miami restaurant with his family Wednesday
The soccer superstar was swarmed by supporters looking for photos as he made for his car
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One fan in an Argentina jersey stopped the soccer icon for a selfie in the street and, as he held the camera up for a snap, he snatched his chance to bizarrely kiss Messi on the cheek.
‘Leo, I love you man. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for so much,’ the supporter said to Messi in Spanish.
Messi seemed largely unfazed by the moment and moved away to catch up with his wife Antonela and their children.
Antonela, 35, was also swarmed by reporters as she led Thiago, 10, Mateo, 7, and Ciro, 5, away from the crowd.
One reporter welcomed her to Miami before trying to ask her questions. Antonela, who looked beautiful in orange palazzo pants and a white crop top, didn’t respond but smiled in acknowledgement.
The same reporter then turned back towards Messi, who was still posing for photos with his adoring fans, and surprisingly hugged the World Cup winner.
‘Welcome to Inter,’ the reporter said in Spanish as he continued to follow Messi to his car. ‘We love you. We’ve all been waiting for you.’
When the forward eventually made it to his car and squeezed into the driver’s door, a swarm of supporters surrounded him, making it nearly difficult for him to depart the parking lot.
The supporters finally cleared the way at the request of the valet and the reporter, who had been rubbing his face against the car window to profess his adoration for the superstar only seconds before.
The Messi family had dined at the SoFlo institution, where the skirt steak accompanied with truffle fries and grilled asparagus is the most costly main item on the menu at $36.95.
Messi and owner Cea posed for a shot in the ‘Secret Back Room,’ with Messi’s eldest son Thiago playing the drums in the background, according to the restaurant’s Instagram account.
Supporters filmed and took photos of the 36-year-old as he left the Miami Beach hotspot
One reporter welcomed Messi’s wife, Antonela, to Miami before trying to ask her questions
The restaurant’s Instagram account shared a photo of Messi and owner Gerado Cea (left)
The Italian hotspot has been serving up pasta for three decades, having opened its doors in Miami Beach in 1993, but hosting the soccer icon will definitely enhance its business.
However, it is no stranger to entertaining celebrities, having hosted NBA icon Michael Jordan, Pitbull, and actor Michael Caine, with a private room accessible for reservations.
It’s also not the first time Messi has dined at the ristorante, which includes a photo of the former Barcelona player on its ‘Celebs’ story carousel.
Messi arrived in South Beach on Tuesday ahead of his Inter Miami debut.
He is set to sign a two-and-a-half year contract with Inter Miami, with a one-year extension option.
When asked by an ESPN reporter Thursday, Beckham said he was pleased to have the star at the club but would to reveal any further details.
Jorge Mas, Beckham’s Miami co-owner, claims Messi will make between $50 and $60 million each year, with funds provided by adidas through Miami jersey sales and Apple TV, which owns MLS subscription rights.
He’s been on vacation with Antonela and their three sons in the Caribbean. The family was photographed at Miami International Airport on Tuesday afternoon, while Miami fans gathered outside the team’s DRV PNK Stadium to celebrate the historic move.
The 36-year-old Argentina World Cup winner will be officially introduced by Miami on Sunday night and is scheduled to make his Leagues Cup debut against Cruz Azul on Thursday, July 21.
Messi has been on vacation in the Caribbean with Antonela and their three sons
Messi has landed in Miami Tuesday to complete his stunning move to Major League Soccer
Fans gathered outside Miami’s DRV PNK Stadium to celebrate Messi’s imminent arrival
Messi’s arrival will galvanize interest both in soccer across America and Miami itself
Fans gathered outside DRV Pink Stadium on Tuesday when Messi arrived in South Florida.
‘My mentality 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 perform at the top level,’ Messi said on Argentina television, according to ESPN.
‘We are delighted with the decision we made,’ he said of his family’s move to the United States. ‘I’m ready and excited to take on the new challenge, the new transformation.’
Messi’s arrival in Major League Soccer is expected to catapult the sport to new heights in the United States. Sergio Busquets, a former Barcelona teammate, has already joined him in Miami.
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 squad is now last in the MLS Eastern Conference, has not 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 could 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.
Another of Messi’s former Barcelona colleagues, defender Jordi Alba, is expected to join Miami in another eye-catching move by the franchise.
The 36-year-old Messi arrives in the United States as a World Cup winner with Argentina
Messi is set to reunite with ex-Barca teammate Sergio Busquets in MLS, as well as Jordi Alba
He’ll also reunite with Tata Martino, who coached him at both Barcelona and the Argentina national team. Martino was recently named Miami’s head coach.
Miami is reportedly interested in signing free agent Sergio Ramos, who, like Messi, 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.
