Is LeBron James a Lionel Messi Fan?

By: Fatima Roshni Image credit: Hoops Hype

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[{"selector":"#anim-8ce6e6f8-71b3-4b0f-ba52-981b70495910","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-67ebf96d-d9ab-417f-b1ec-e3b5eb9adc7d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 62.15652%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-99b22c7a-e82e-4024-8d93-f727c463c3d2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e20b407a-7052-4654-8ab7-b5a68655994e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-63.99595401326128%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] With Messi's debut in MLS for Inter Miami on July 21, 2023, LeBron's presence at the game created a separate fanbase with rumors of the beginning of a new friendship.

[{"selector":"#anim-fd92a86d-a432-414c-97b5-c9b0e78e87a9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(63.22351209142568%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a4b34b77-d49a-4dcd-8de8-e9e3545e4928","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ced4c740-91d3-4587-bbb2-922b2db930a7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 135.76389%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e38e3634-a1d1-4d0c-b309-728f6b5a5e16","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-696eac77-2cd5-49a3-9d7a-df8421e85ec8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 73.65480%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Sharing a special moment prior to the match, the two icons greeted each other with a friendly hug, followed by a small interaction between them that ended with a big win for Miami against Cruz Azul.

[{"selector":"#anim-7ea56971-0582-4278-bb89-ec1fc7e38654 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(18.98914135307726%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ab6776e7-1083-4eb4-9838-32cad78397e5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cf235edf-f777-4fc5-8867-52c098b0becb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(94.95614%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a96c967d-e045-48b0-8317-c3b49466d0fc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-119.73685%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-da2b4ea9-165b-4571-8d30-6d895f1966de","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e0306cec-cacc-462a-86f6-9011bca0a38a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] With speculations of their friendship already beginning, LeBron tweeted a post for Messi the following day captioned, "Welcome brother!!! Always good to see and be in the presence of GREATNESS!!!"

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[{"selector":"#anim-dd2913b8-2003-4d09-80cd-a988e9ecb617","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d186d236-37b1-43dd-a7a3-a70c4ef7bf04","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-123162ff-91f8-4d8c-aea6-d073ed1294d7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(62.40434342716075%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] LeBron's support for Messi was also evident in 2022 World Cup, when Argentina defeated France. His Twitter post captioned Messi along with a goat emoji, tagging him as the greatest of all time.

[{"selector":"#anim-a1b68d32-ae25-4e9d-8335-cfde2ffa541e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eee5a7d9-a870-42cc-b73b-8df64ac03463","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 132.23595%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c7216591-73fa-471b-829d-03d5f054ec08","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0d869db3-5acf-4a41-a500-a946332c8faa","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9b066e42-2422-4314-9a33-b480f5cfd6a0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-54.614211661006905%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Since claiming his love for Cristiano Ronaldo during an Instagram live session in 2020, LeBron's interest seems to have diverted away as of now with his ongoing support for Messi.

[{"selector":"#anim-a7bde422-5ad2-491c-ade9-fb156aea4912 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(15.772299662495328%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] LeBron's linkup with Messi, dates back to 2011, when the two met during a training session at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, when Messi was playing for Barcelona and James for the Miami Heat.

Is LeBron James a Lionel Messi Fan?

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