LEAGUES CUP 2023
Messi brought a surprise gift for his new Inter Miami teammates
USMNT defender DeAndre Yedlin revealed that after Messi’s debut, the Argentine star had a special something for each of the players.
You’ve heard of BC and AD, right? Well, at Inter Miami there is BM and AM, a before Messi and an after Messi, and some fans would even argue that their roots are based on some sort of spirituality too, a footballing god, you could say. This situation was immediate in terms of fame, profile and headlines, but, more surprisingly, it has also arisen very quickly on the field of play. Prior to the arrival of the Argentine star to the squad, positive results were hard to find for the Herons, even as Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino stepped in to take over as coach. A painful setback against St. Louis cried out for their new hero to arrive.
Miami time moves from Before to After Messi
And sure enough, only playing the latter part of his debut game, Lionel Messi proved to be the crucial boost to the team’s spirits, snatching a win in the dying seconds with a stunning, if rather unsurprising given his standards, free-kick in the Leagues Cup opening group game against Cruz Azul. That was followed by a brace inside 22 minutes in game two against Atlanta United, one they went on to dominate 4-0. What a difference a GOAT makes.
This has filled the fans of the club and everyone connected with Inter Miami with a renewed optimism, which, once the Leagues Cup is over, will focus on coming back strong in the MLS and fighting to move from the bottom of the standings to a playoffs place. And then there’s thought of being crowned with the MLS Cup title for Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and the rest. It’s a busy time.
Yedlin reveals the Messi gift
As well as the gifts of goals, assists and ‘that winning feeling’, after the Atlanta game we heard about another present from the World Cup winner. American defender DeAndre Yedlin spoke in a mixed zone with the media, where he revealed that special off-field touch that Leo had.
While being interviewed, the USMNT star was wearing headphones from the Beats by Dr. Dre brand, with the colours of Inter Miami and someone questioned him about how to get similar ones. Yedlin explained that Messi was the one who gave them to him and to each of the players in the squad.
“That was from Messi to the team. I don’t know if he bought them, but he gave them to everyone for his first game,” Yedlin explained.