Inter Miami completed their pre-season with a 1-1 draw with Newell’s Old Boys but once again the attention was all on Lionel Messi – even from the opposition players.
Following the end of the match, which saw Messi play an hour against his boyhood club, players from the Argentine side swarmed the Miami No 10 to get photos alongside their country’s icon.
The 36-year-old could be seen in a series of snaps as the Newell’s players formed a queue in the middle of the pitch, with eight players getting a picture with Messi.
He was also embraced with a series hugs and kisses by some Newell’s players as well, as they showed their appreciation for the Ballon d’Or winner.
Around 19,000 fans packed into the DRV PNK Stadium, many of which were fans of the Argentinean team and were there to see the man who led his country to World Cup glory in 2022.
Newell’s Old Boys players swarm Lionel Messi at full-time to get a photo with the Argentine
They formed a queue around the Inter Miami star as they all wanted to a snap with Messi
Players embraced Messi after the 1-1 draw in what is Inter Miami’s last game of the pre-season
Before the match, Messi, his former Argentine team-mate Maxi Rodriguez and Miami coach Tata Martino held up Newell’s shirts together for a pre-game photo before the teams played out a 1-1 draw.
Messi, who spent five years with Newell’s as a child, played for 60 minutes of the match and was off the pitch before any of the goals.
Inter Miami struck first through substitute Shanyder Borgelin just after the hour mark before Franco Diaz notched a late equalizer seven minutes from the end.
It was the culmination of the MLS club’s hectic pre-season schedule, that has seen them go from El Salvador to Texas, to Saudi Arabia and then Hong Kong.
Messi, Tata Martino and Maxi Rodriguez held up Newell’s shirts before the game in a photo
The Inter Miami captain played for an hour against the club he spent five years at as a boy
Inter Miami CF forward Shanyder Borgelin (No 49) celebrates after scoring a goal
Their trip to Hong Kong was marred by angry fans who had paid between £99 and £498 for tickets to see Messi, but the Miami captain missed the game with an inflamed adductor muscle.
Messi’s team open their MLS campaign against Real Salt Lake next week, with the side one of the favourites going into the new season.
Along with Messi, the club also boast Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, while over the break have added Luis Suarez to their all-star line-up to complete a trio of former team-mates of Messi’s.
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