Messi celebrated his first title with Inter Miami

Lionel messi hugged David Beckham after the surprising title coup, then his teammates from Inter Miami happily threw him through the air: The world champion from Argentina led the bottom of the table in Major League Soccer to the cup title within a month. Miami defeated Nashville SC 10-9 in a penalty shootout in the Leagues Cup final, messi contributed two goals. “I’m really happy about the first title in the history of the club. The work and commitment has paid off. Hopefully this is just the beginning,” wrote messi on Instagram.

The scenes of worship and the title ceremony with confetti and huge fireworks were somewhat reminiscent messis World Cup crowning last December. And his teammates paid homage to the 36-year-old. “We have developed a good team spirit, we work hard – and then we have Leo who makes the difference because he is the best player in the world,” said team-mate Sergio Busquets.

Dream goal to 1:0, strong nerves in the penalty shootout

Was in the Nashville final messi again the most striking figure. He gave Miami the lead with another dream goal, converting from penalties right at the start. After 21 more penalties, the drama was over and the first trophy for the Florida Beckham club was perfect. The co-owner who messi brought him to the USA this summer, raved about “unbelievable nights in pink” – the club’s colour.

“It was a very special evening. Not just for our club, but also for the fans, the players, the families and everyone who was with us on this journey,” said the 48-year-old Beckham, who also remembered the difficult times of the engagements that have lasted since 2014. These should be with the arrival of messi be over as best as possible. The Superstar’s record in the first month is promising: Leagues Cup title, top scorer with ten goals and a Player of the Tournament honour.

Ambassador for the World Cup

But messi should not only deliver in terms of sport, but also become a kind of ambassador for football three years before the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada. In the USA, this is often overshadowed by the other major sports leagues NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB. In Nashville, the rush for final tickets was huge. Even the cheapest of the 30,109 seats cost several hundred dollars. And messi is aware of his role. “There are all the prerequisites for top football here,” he told ESPN before the final. It’s time to take the next step.

Not only the first XXL World Cup with 48 teams awaits in the USA, but also the Copa America in 2024. “It’s an ideal moment to grow. There are important competitions coming up in this country,” said messi. He himself could play for Argentina at the age of 37 and 39, an end in sky blue and white is not in sight even after Qatar’s World Cup triumph. He does not regret the move from Paris Saint-Germain to Florida. “We’re enjoying the city and the reactions from the fans, which are exceptional.” He’s just grateful.