SUMMARY
- Lionel Messi was back in action for Inter Miami recently against Colorado.
- During the game, Messi tried to save a young girl from security after she invaded the pitch.
Lionel Messi’s popularity has grown since he arrived in the United States. After rejecting offers from Al-Hilal and FC Barcelona, Messi’s decision to sign with Inter Miami has made him one of the most popular figures in America. This has also led to increased security around the Argentine soccer star. However, a young fan didn’t seem to care about it at all when she decided to invade the pitch to meet her hero.
Lionel Messi finally made his return to action after recovering from his hamstring injury against Colorado a couple of days ago. It didn’t take Messi long to make an impact on the game as the Inter Miami skipper scored the equalizer with a left-footed volley and also set up his side’s second goal. The match ended in a 2-2 draw after Inter Miami’s lack of sharpness in the defense allowed Colorado to grab a late equalizer.
During the match, as we have often seen in the past, a young girl decided to invade the pitch and meet Lionel Messi. She managed to escape the security personnel and finally got to meet the 2022 World Cup winner. Messi, who looked a bit taken aback, obliged the young girl with a selfie before offering her a word of advice. It was revealed later by the girl who has now been identified as Antonella Siegert.
🇻🇪 Antonella Siegert (The girl who took a selfie with Messi):
“The few seconds Leo Messi hugged me were the most beautiful moments of my life. Then he told me, “Run, run quickly, before security catches you.” pic.twitter.com/VSo9uAtrNj
— Max Stéph (@maxstephh) April 8, 2024
Antonella said, “The few seconds Leo Messi hugged me were the most beautiful moments of my life. Then he told me, “Run, run quickly before security catches you.” However, unfortunately for Antonella, she couldn’t manage to escape the security a second time as they caught her before promptly escorting her off the pitch to let the game continue.
UFC champ Ilia Topuria gushes on Instagram after meeting Lionel Messi
A real testament to Lionel Messi’s rising acclaim in the United States is the host of A-lister celebrities coming to watch the Argentine superstar in action. Since his debut match back in July 2023, several celebrities like Kim Kardashian, LeBron James, Selena Gomez, Leonardo Di Caprio, Novak Djokovic, and so on have been in attendance for Inter Miami’s games.
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During Inter Miami’s most recent MLS clash against Colorado, reigning UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria came to Chase Stadium in Miami to watch Messi. After the match, the pair were spotted having a light-hearted interaction. Topuria also shared a snap alongside the Inter Miami skipper on Instagram. In addition to this, Puerto Rican singer Daddy Yankee was also one of the guest celebrities who came to watch Lionel Messi play.
Lionel Messi amazes fans with his defensive skills for a change
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi was back to his best after a long spell of absence due to a hamstring injury. Despite having a bright start to the season, Messi has been plagued with injuries and has already missed as many as five Inter Miami games this season. However, coach Tata Martino decided to bring on his star player against Colorado ahead of his side’s crucial Concacaf Champions Cup second-leg clash against Monterrey.
Lionel Messi with a slide tackle!pic.twitter.com/aIq1cQlrgx
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) April 7, 2024
Messi, who missed the first leg, looked in great spirits against Colorado and took just 13 minutes to score his fourth MLS goal of the season. However, Messi also surprisingly displayed some great defensive skills which left the fans in awe. After losing possession near the middle of the pitch, Lionel Messi, who has received criticism for his lack of defensive contribution, tracked back and put in a splendid tackle to stop Colorado’s counter-attack.