Lionel Messi stole the spotlight during Inter Miami’s presentation on Sunday at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Both Messi and David Beckham took the stage to address the excited crowd, with Messi expressing his eagerness to contribute to Inter Miami’s pursuit of trophies.
The presentation was broadcast live on Apple TV and shared across Inter Miami’s social media channels. However, amidst the overall positive coverage, a particular video from the event has gone viral for less favorable reasons.
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Bleacher Report shared a video on Instagram captioned “Leo Messi’s first words to the Inter Miami fans,”. The video quickly gained attention. In the video, a translator’s attempt to translate Messi’s first line, “Thank you very much,” was received with amusement by some fans.
The translator’s confusing rendition of the line left some fans puzzled. Others found it hilarious, with speculation that Messi himself spoke the line in broken English. The video has garnered over 4 million views on Instagram, as fans enthusiastically share this amusing moment with their friends.
Inter Miami owner hailed Lionel Messi as “America’s number 10” at Inter Miami’s presentation
Lionel Messi has reclaimed the iconic number 10 jersey. The Argentine previously wore the number 10 at FC Barcelona but opted for the number 30 during his time at PSG. However, there has been criticism directed at Adidas and Inter Miami. Fans lashed out at them on social media for pricing the number 10 jersey of Inter Miami at $200.
During the event, where Sergio Busquets was also unveiled as an Inter Miami player, the club’s co-owners expressed their excitement before introducing the legendary number 10.
David Beckham, one of the co-owners, began the ceremony by stating that signing Lionel Messi is a “dream come true” for him.
The atmosphere in Miami for Lionel Messi’s presentation 🇺🇸🔥
(via @M30Xtra) pic.twitter.com/IWbCvvLEbu
— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) July 17, 2023
Beckham went on to say, “Leo, we are incredibly proud that you have chosen our club for the next chapter of your career.” Beckham concluded his speech by delivering a Spanish phrase. He said, “Bienvenido a nuestra familia Leo” (Welcome to our family, Leo), which elicited cheers from the crowd.
Jorge Mas, Miami’s majority owner, had his own speech lined up. He began by stating, “Tonight is a gift and celebration to the city that opened its arms to my family.” Mas exclaimed, “Tonight, we are doing this in the rain. This is holy water!” referring to the thunderstorm that nearly caused the event to be canceled.
He continued, “This is our moment! Our moment to change the football landscape in this country.” Mas then introduced Messi as “Your new number 10, America’s number 10.” The title “America’s Number 10” has a captivating ring to it. It could potentially become a prominent branding element for MLS and Inter Miami throughout the season.