Lionel Messi landed on a foot. Lauderdale on Tuesday in preparation for the unveiling of his new club, Inter Miami, on Sunday.
Messi arrived accompanied by his wife and children, and the club also issued an announcement confirming the welcome event, dubbed “The Unveil”, which is scheduled to kick off at 6 pm on Sunday at the stadium of DRV PNK. Inter Miami season ticket holders will receive free entry.
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In an interview with Argentina TV published on Tuesday, Messi said he will do everything he can for the struggling MLS club, which now has a club-record 10-match winless streak following Sunday’s 2-2 draw against D.C. United.
¡MESSI YA ESTÁ EN MIAMI! El mejor jugador del mundo arribó a su nuevo destino y ya se Prepara para su presentación en el Inter, será el próximo domingo.
📺 # ESPNF360 | @tweet pic.twitter.com/EfXQP6Git3
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“My mentality and my head will not change and I will try, wherever I am, to do the best for myself and for my new club, and continue to perform at the highest level,” Messi told Argentina’s television programme. Love a la eternidad.
Speaking about his family’s move to the United States, he added, “We are happy with the decision we have made. We are ready and excited to take on the new challenge, the new change.”
Inter Miami has not yet officially signed, after reaching an agreement with the Argentine legend, who spent two seasons with the first division champion, Paris Saint-Germain, after his departure from Barcelona.
Miami is targeting its League Cup match on July 21 against Cruz Azul, making Messi’s debut with the club.
Messi will once again coach his former coach in Argentina and Barcelona, Tata Martino, who took over the team in late June.
Messi, 35, has won every major honor available to him during a legendary career that places him among the greatest players of all time. In addition to being awarded the prestigious Ballon d’Or as the best player in the world seven times, Messi has won 43 titles.
Thirty-five of those have come with Barcelona: 10 LaLiga titles, eight Spanish Super Cups, seven Copa del Rey and four Champions League titles. He left the Catalan club in the summer of 2021 and scored his top scorer with 672 goals.
With Barcelona mired in financial troubles, Messi was forced to leave and he spent the last two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain, winning the Ligue 1 title both years.
Perhaps his greatest moment came just six months ago, when he led Argentina to their first World Cup title since the Diego Maradona-inspired team in 1986. Messi scored twice in the final as Argentina beat France on penalties after a thrilling match in Qatar.