Few could have predicted that, three years after Lionel Messi’s switch to Miami, the Argentine captain would be spearheading his country’s bid to defend the World Cup crown while rewriting record books at his sixth tournament.
Key takeaways
- Messi, now 39, is set to return to Miami for Argentina’s last-32 World Cup match against Cape Verde on Friday.
- He found the net six times during the group stage and has extended his World Cup scoring run to seven consecutive games.
- With 19 World Cup goals, Messi became the competition’s leading scorer of all time.
- Inter Miami, formed in 2018 and previously without major silverware, quickly gained momentum after Messi’s arrival.
- Messi’s influence has reached beyond football in South Florida, boosting local interest in the sport and strengthening community ties to Argentina.
Messi’s World Cup form and Miami return
Returning to the Florida city he now calls home, Messi will feature in Friday’s last-32 clash as Argentina take on Cape Verde, the tournament’s standout surprise. The forward’s run of form has been relentless, with six goals in the group phase and a scoring streak that now spans seven straight World Cup matches.
In the process, Messi reached a landmark that puts his name at the very top of World Cup history. His tally of 19 goals makes him the competition’s all-time leading scorer, a feat that underlines how his peak continues to endure on the biggest stage.
From retirement talk to new chapters in Miami
Before the move, many expected Messi to begin semi-retirement after leaving elite European football for Major League Soccer. That switch came after he finally ended a long wait to lift the World Cup trophy in Qatar, and with it, a widely held belief that his international dominance might slow down.
Instead, Messi has challenged those expectations. He has continued to shape matches at international level while also transforming the soccer landscape in the United States through his impact on both results and culture.
Inter Miami—co-owned by David Beckham and established in 2018—had not won a trophy before Messi joined. His arrival changed that quickly, turning one of MLS’s newest franchises into a magnet for high-profile European talent.
With support from former Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, Messi guided Inter Miami to win the Leagues Cup in his first season. The tournament is a knockout contest involving clubs from MLS, Mexico’s top league and Canada’s top tier.
Last year, Messi and Miami went a step further by securing the club’s first MLS title, adding another major milestone to a rapid rise.
Local passion grows around Messi and Argentina
The reach of a player widely regarded as the greatest of all time extends well beyond the pitch. In Doral, near Miami, Juan Pugin—an academy coach at Revo Soccer—described how Messi’s presence has reshaped the local football scene.
“Messi marked a before and after for what soccer means here. From 2023 onwards, everyone became an Inter fan,” Pugin said. “We’ve really noticed it at the academy too. Many more kids have signed up to play the sport.”
That surge in enthusiasm is visible in everyday life across South Florida. Lily Diaz, a 69-year-old Buenos Aires native, was out walking in Miami wearing a cap from Argentina’s national team. She said the experience of having Messi in the city has made her feel closer to the country she left about four decades ago to settle in Florida.
“It’s a huge thrill to have Messi come play for Argentina. It’s a source of pride; he’s a role model as both an athlete and a human being,” Diaz said. She added that she has already watched the star play four times for Inter.
Nearby, Johnny Fortes, 62, has traveled from Buenos Aires with the aim of following Argentina through their World Cup run, potentially all the way to a final. Fortes said his trip required serious sacrifice, describing how he worked an office job while driving at night to afford the journey.
“I work an office job, but for a year-and-a-half, I drove a car at night so I could afford to come to the United States,” Fortes said. “I made sacrifices, but it was worth it.”
Match day culture in Miami
In Miami’s Argentine dining scene, the excitement is just as tangible. At Buenos Aires Bakery, a well-known Argentine restaurant, organizers have set an entry fee of $15 and a $20 minimum spend for fans who want to watch Argentina’s matches in a packed venue, mixing national-team fervor with the practical needs of hosting a growing crowd.
Inside, Julian Franco is sampling Argentine food that he cannot find in Buffalo, where he has been living since relocating from the Argentine province of Catamarca three months ago. Like many others hoping to be part of the atmosphere, Franco does not have a ticket for Friday’s match, but he still wants to feel the energy in South Florida.
“You feel so excited watching Messi play,” Franco said. “Especially knowing that he has faced failures too. It gives you hope that not everything is lost—that you always have to give a little bit more to achieve what you want.”
