Lionel Messi is wrapping up his amazing soccer career in the MLS with Inter Miami, a team co-owned by David Beckham. When Messi joined, other big stars like Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets also came to Miami. This team turned things around dramatically, going from 14th place in the Eastern Conference and 27th overall in the MLS in 2023, to being number one in 2024. Messi himself scored 23 goals and made 13 assists in just 24 games. However, despite their successful regular season, they were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs by Atlanta United.
In an interview, Oscar Ustari, an Argentine goalkeeper who joined Miami in September 2024, talked about training with Messi and described him as “unbearably competitive.” Ustari said, “Messi is amazing at everything. New players are often surprised by his skills and passion for soccer. He works hard in training every day.”
Ustari also shared a funny story about Messi’s training routines. He said, “On my first day at the club, Messi was doing pull-ups without a shirt, and everyone was amazed. He treats everyone well and is really family-oriented. He cares a lot about the team and the academy.”
Messi was named the MLS Most Valuable Player for the 2024 season and became Inter Miami’s top goalscorer. Interestingly, this was the first time in almost ten years that he didn’t get nominated for the Ballon d’Or, which was awarded to Manchester City’s Rodri. Ustari has a long history with Messi, as they both played together for Argentina in the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship, where Argentina won gold.
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