Miami– Lionel Messi Received the keys to the city of Miami from Mayor Francis Suarez on Wednesday night after speaking at the Americas Business Forum at the Cassia Center.
“I feel like giving this [key] “Thank you for everything you have done for our wonderful city, our country and the world of football,” Suarez said.
, Miami’s Suarez banned for kicking Nashville’s Nazar
, Last Dance: Playoffs will define the MLS legacy of Inter Miami’s Fantastic Four
, Miami boss: We have to endure the ‘pain’ of playoff loss
messi joins inter miami On July 15, 2023, he immediately made history with the club by lifting his first trophy with the inaugural League Cup win just days after his debut.
Since then, Messi has led Inter Miami to the 2024 Supporters’ Shield and set the record for most points in a single season. of MLS Campaign.
“I want to share and say something about our Inter Miami captain, our number 10,” Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas said. “It’s a small gift from this city that has captured all of our hearts.
“It is a welcome place not only for you but also for wife Antonella and your beautiful family, so you will always feel at home here.”
Individually, Messi won the 2024 MLS MVP and the 2025 Golden Boot and stands as a finalist for the 2025 MLS MVP.
Although Messi’s original contract with the club expires at the end of the 2025 campaign, the 38-year-old recently signed a three-year deal Staying in South Florida through the 2028 MLS season.
“Thank you, I’m very honored by this,” Messi said. “It’s true that, as I just said, we feel very loved, very grateful, very happy to live in this city, and it’s a great honor for me to have this distinction, so thank you.”
The Inter Miami captain previously spoke about his difficult exit barcelonaExplaining the difficulty he faced transitioning from life in Spain to France with Paris Saint-Germain before making the move to MLS.
“Well, the truth is that the first time we went to Paris it was hard because we had lived our whole lives in Barcelona,” he said. “We were very happy there – family, kids, we had everything. We grew up there.
“Imagine, I left when I was 13; that’s my whole life. My wife first came to the city when she was 20 or 21. And well, it’s never easy to adjust and adapt. But the truth is that we settled well, the kids too, like my wife, into our daily lives.
“But, as I have said many times, I was not having a good time in terms of football and everyday life. I was not able to enjoy myself for many reasons, partly because everything was new to me, very different from what I was accustomed to.”
After a two-year stint with PSG, Messi announced his shock move to Inter Miami.
Messi said, “It was a family decision; we decided to pursue my professional career in Miami.” “I think it means a lot – choosing where you want to be and being able to do it makes things a lot easier.
“And once we got to Miami, it was amazing. It’s incredible to be in this city for the first time. And then everyone has been like that from day one. The first day was amazing, and today is another example of the welcome I feel.”
Messi spoke on the same day that Inter Miami announced that its new stadium near Miami International Airport was reaching a major construction milestone with the final beam being raised for the stadium canopy.
“I’m happy in this place, so I’m happy to keep it going,” he said. “I’m really looking forward, really looking forward to this being over, to be able to play here.”
Inter Miami prepares to play final game of best-of-three Round 1 playoff series Nashville SC Saturday night at their current Fort Lauderdale home of Chase Stadium.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
