Lionel Messi has expressed his enthusiasm for embarking on a fresh chapter in his career as he departs from Europe to join MLS team Inter Miami.
The legendary player, who has won the Ballon d’Or seven times, was in his home country to pay tribute to Argentina icon Juan Roman Riquelme during his farewell game, where an Argentina XI faced off against Boca Junior XI.
Addressing the crowd that had gathered to witness the commemorative match, Messi shared his sentiments about the significance of this new phase in his career outside of Europe, as reported by AS Soccer.
“It is a very nice feeling to have been able to be at [Riquelme’s] testimonial, with all that he means for football in Argentina, what he means to Boca, to be once again in ‘La Bombonera’. Now there will be a few days of vacation and then I will start in my new city, my new club (Inter Miami ), I am very excited.”
Messi scored a hat trick in the 4-2 victory for the Argentina XI, and in the second half, he said goodbye with a hug from Riquelme.
Riquelme thanks Messi for appearance
Meanwhile, Juan Roman Riquelme has thanked Lionel Messi for playing in his farewell game after the six-time Ballon d’Or turned up in Rosario for the ex-Villareal superstar, Sportskeeda reports.
Messi, who played alongside Riquelme during the legend’s later days in the national team, has been a huge fan of the veteran and considers the former Barcelona midfielder a role model.
Riquelme took a minute to thank Messi for accepting the invitation and apologised to his family as they had to wait a few more days before starting their vacation.
Argentine fans serenade Lionel Messi
Earlier, Sports Brief reported Lionel Messi marked his 36th birthday in a memorable way, as the World Cup-winning player featured in a game for his Argentinian club Newell’s Old Boys.
The game honoured his teammate Maxi Rodriguez’s last international game. Before the match, the crowd at Rosario Stadium welcomed Messi at his home ground in an elegant way, and the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner didn’t disappoint the audience by taking a stunning free-kick to open the scoring.
The Rosario crowd even sang Messi the happy birthday song and the superstar said that it felt special to spend a birthday in Rosario.