With the Messi Cup, the Rosario idol seeks to take another step: project from Miami a space where young talent combines with innovation and culture, consolidating his influence beyond the playing field.
Lionel Messi once again linked its name to the development of youth football, this time with the launch of the Messi Cupan international U-16 tournament that will be held in December in Miami and will feature the participation of world-class teams. Among them, there will be two Argentine clubs: River Plate and Newell’s Old Boysthe institution where the captain of the Argentine National Team took his first steps.
The contest, organized by 525 Rosarythe production company created by Messi himself, will take place for six days at the facilities of the Inter Miami CFthe club where the Rosario player currently plays. The competition will seek to position itself as a new reference in the global youth calendar, combining sport, culture and innovation.
“Finally I can tell you that in December there is a very special tournament for promising young players in Miami, with several of the best clubs in the world”Messi announced on his Instagram account, accompanied by a promotional video.
It is not the first experience of Messi’s entourage in the field of youth football. In 2024, at the training camps of Newell’s Old Boysa tournament with similar characteristics was held, in which Thiago Messithe star’s eldest son, representing Inter Miami. That edition brought together teams from Argentina, Uruguay and Peru, among them Peñarol, Montevideo City Torque, Universitario, Colón de Santa Fe and Estudiantes de Río Cuarto.
Confirmed teams and tournament format
The Messi Cup will bring together eight U-16 teams: Inter Miami, FC Barcelona, Manchester City, River Plate, Inter Milan, Newell’s, Atlético de Madrid and Chelsea. The matches will be played in the Chase Stadium and in the Florida Blue Training Centerthe two main headquarters of the American club.
The format provides for two groups of four teams that will face each other during the first three days. The best classified in each zone will advance to the final stage, which will define the positions and the first champion of the contest. The final and third place match will be played at Chase Stadium.
The event will not be limited to sports. In parallel to the meetings, a international summit at the Faena Forumwhich will bring together leaders from sports, culture and business. In addition, there will be Messi Cup Summit Party in the restaurant Pao by Paul Quiwith the aim of strengthening the link between the different industries convened by the event.
The organization highlights that the initiative seeks “transform youth talent into legacy and build a global community around a new era of football”.
Source: Ambito
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