The Argentine shall be hoping to repay the gesture by main Inter Miami to play-off glory…
Lionel Messi was introduced with the important thing to the town of Miami on Wednesday night by Mayor Francis Suarez following his look on the America Enterprise Discussion board.
Messi, who joined Inter Miami in July 2023, rapidly turned a central determine within the membership’s historical past. He led the group to its first-ever trophy, profitable the Leagues Cup shortly after his debut.
Since then, Inter Miami have captured the 2024 Supporters’ Defend and recorded the very best factors whole in a single MLS season.
“I’ve had the want to give this [key] to you for all that you simply’ve completed for our grand metropolis, our nation and the world of soccer, thanks,” Suarez mentioned.
On the ceremony, Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas additionally paid tribute to the Argentine star.
He mentioned: “I wish to share and say one thing about our Inter Miami captain, our quantity 10. This can be a small reward from this metropolis, which has captured the hearts of all of us.
“This can be a welcome not just for you but in addition for spouse Antonela and your stunning household, so to at all times really feel at dwelling right here.”
Messi’s achievements since arriving in MLS embrace profitable the 2024 MLS MVP award and the 2025 Golden Boot, whereas he stays a finalist for this 12 months’s MVP honour.
Though his authentic contract was on account of expire on the finish of the 2025 season, the 38-year-old has prolonged his stick with a brand new three-year deal that retains him in South Florida till 2028.
“Thanks, I really feel very honoured by this,” Messi mentioned. “It’s true that, as I simply mentioned, we really feel very liked, very grateful, very joyful to be dwelling on this metropolis, and to have the ability to have this distinction for me is a good honour, so thanks.”
Reflecting on His Journey
Through the discussion board, Messi additionally mirrored on his profession path, together with the emotional departure from Barcelona and the challenges of adapting to life in Paris with PSG earlier than his transfer to america.
“Nicely, the reality is that the primary time we moved to Paris was powerful as a result of we’d lived our complete lives in Barcelona,” he mentioned. “We had been very joyful there – household, the children, we had all the pieces. We grew up there.
“Think about, I left once I was 13; that’s my complete life. My spouse arrived within the metropolis for the primary time when she was 20 or 21. And properly, it’s by no means simple to regulate and adapt. However the fact is, we settled in properly, the children too, of their each day lives, identical to my spouse.
“However, as I’ve mentioned a number of occasions, I wasn’t having time when it comes to soccer and day-to-day life. I wasn’t having fun with myself for lots of causes, partly as a result of all the pieces was new to me, very totally different from what I used to be used to.”
After two seasons in France, Messi selected to start a brand new chapter in Miami.
“It was a household resolution; we determined to pursue my skilled profession in Miami,” Messi added. “I feel meaning rather a lot – selecting the place you wish to be and with the ability to do it makes issues a lot simpler.
“And after I arrived in Miami, it was spectacular. Dwelling on this metropolis for the primary time is unbelievable. After which there’s the way in which everybody has been since day one. The primary day was wonderful, and at present is simply one other instance of the welcome I really feel.”
Messi’s feedback got here as Inter Miami introduced progress on its new stadium close to Miami Worldwide Airport, the place the ultimate beams of the roof construction had been not too long ago put in.
“I’m joyful on this place, so I’m very joyful to proceed,” he mentioned. “I’m actually anxious, actually wanting ahead to it being completed, to have the ability to play right here.”
Inter Miami will now flip their focus to Saturday night time’s enormous play-off match in opposition to Nashville SC at Chase Stadium, the place they might want to overcome a 2-1 deficit.