Messi returns ‘home’ to lead Argentina World Cup charge in Miami

MIAMI: Few imagined that three years after making the move to Miami, Lionel Messi would be leading Argentina’s charge to defend the title and smashing records at his sixth World Cup.
The 39-year-old returns to the Florida city he now calls home for a last 32 clash against the surprise package of the tournament Cape Verde on Friday after scoring six times in the group stages.
In doing so Messi became the all-time top scorer in World Cup history with 19 and is on a record seven-game scoring streak in the competition.
Many believed the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was headed for semi-retirement when he swapped top level European football for Major League Soccer after ending his long to wait to win the World Cup in Qatar.
But Messi has defied expectations, both with his impact on soccer Stateside and his ability to continue deciding games at international level.
Inter Miami, co-owned by David Beckham and only formed in 2018, had never won a trophy prior to his arrival.
Messi’s arrival instantly made one of MLS’s newest franchises a go-to destination for European stars.
Aided by his former Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, Messi led Inter to victory in the Leagues Cup, a knockout competition between clubs in the MLS, Mexican and Canadian leagues, in his first season.
Last year Messi and Miami went one better in securing the club’s first MLS title.

The Messi effect

The influence of a player widely considered the greatest of all time extends far beyond the pitch.
“Messi marked a before and after for what soccer means here. From 2023 onwards, everyone became an Inter fan,” explains Juan Pugin, a coach at the Revo Soccer academy in Doral, near Miami.
“We’ve really noticed it at the academy too. Many more