Even the heavy rain couldn’t ruin Lionel Messi’s grand introduction to Inter Miami on Sunday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The renowned soccer player, who recently led Argentina to victory in the World Cup in Qatar, was warmly welcomed by a stadium full of devoted fans. The event, known as ‘The Unveil,’ took place at Miami’s home stadium and was a glamorous affair.
Once he was introduced, the recipient of the Ballon d’Or award seven times made his way towards the center of the field, walking along a catwalk illuminated by spotlights. He was dressed in a T-shirt and jeans and was given his No. 10 shirt. He then spoke briefly to the audience in Spanish.
“I am very happy to have chosen to come to this city with my family, to have chosen this project and I have no doubt that we are going to enjoy it very much,” said Messi.
“We are going to have a good time and great things are going to happen. Thank you very much, thank you all for this day.”
“I can’t wait to start training to compete. I feel the same desire I’ve always had to compete, to really want to win and to help it (Miami) continue to grow.”
Following his speech, a video montage of good wishes was shown on the large screen in the stadium. The compilation featured messages from notable figures such as former NFL quarterback Tom Brady and NBA player Stephen Curry. Messi was later joined on the field by his wife and three children, and they posed for photographs before a spectacular fireworks display illuminated the night sky.
This event took place the day after Inter Miami revealed that Messi had signed a contract, ensuring his presence with the club until 2025. Messi will have the opportunity to make his debut on Friday in a Leagues Cup match against Mexico’s Cruz Azul.
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