Whenever Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi takes to the field, opposing players instantly buy tickets for a postgame shirt swap lottery.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The World Cup-winning Argentine is held in the highest regard by domestic and international rivals, meaning that his jersey is always in demand when it comes to trades at the final whistle. That has remained the case since his stunning move to the United States in the summer of 2023.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Many opponents have landed themselves a treasured memento after crossing paths with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, but he cannot satisfy every request. Messi’s latest outing, which saw him return to action after missing four games with a hamstring injury, saw him face off against the Colorado Rapids.
DID YOU KNOW?
Messi was introduced for the second half of that contest, and got himself on the score sheet in a 2-2 draw. He was chased down by a young pitch invader at full-time, before then trading shirts with Brazilian striker Rafael Navarro. The 23-year-old forward has posted his thanks, while showing off his prize, on social media.
WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?
It remains to be seen whether Messi will hand over his famous No.10 jersey again following Inter Miami’s next fixture, with bad blood bubbling up between the Herons and CONCACAF Champions Cup rivals Monterrey – with the second leg of their quarter-final clash, which the Mexican outfit currently leads 2-1 on aggregate, set to take place on Wednesday.
