Quickly loved Lionel Messi remains Inter Miami captain: ‘He helps the young players a lot’ | Foreign football

Messi made his debut for his new club on the night from Friday to Saturday with a substitute in the match against Mexico’s Cruz Azul. Messi came on in the 52nd minute and was immediately given the captain’s armband. Together with Messi, Busquets and striker Josef Martínez from Venezuela also entered the field. Together with the 21,000 spectators, they saw how Messi made the winning 2-1 in the 94th minute with a sublime free kick.

“On his debut, we immediately gave Leo the tire when he came on and he now remains our captain,” said Martino. “What we saw from Messi in the game was that he immediately directed and motivated his teammates. He did that in the training sessions last week. He helps the young players a lot and talks to them about football.”

With 12.5 million viewers, Messi’s debut with Inter Miami was the most watched football match ever on American television. It was even better watched than the highest-watched NBA Finals ever, last year’s between the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics had 12.4 million viewers in the United States. Celebrities such as David Beckham (owner and president of Inter Miami), Victoria Beckham, LeBron James, Serena Williams, Gloria Estefan and Kim Kardashian sat Friday night in the stands at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, an hour north of downtown Miami.

Messi not only made himself popular with his new supporters and fellow players with his winning goal on his debut, but also with a nice gesture afterwards. His young Jamaican team-mate Ian Fray (20) suffered a serious knee injury during the game, having returned in May after 804 days of rehabilitation. Afterwards, Messi held up Fray’s shirt in the dressing room for a group photo and in his interview shortly after the game he also spoke directly about Fray. “I want to dedicate this victory to Ian Fray, who clearly suffered in the dressing room from the injury he sustained. He has just come back from two serious knee injuries and was unlucky to be injured again. I wish him the best of luck,” Messi said.

Messi’s second match at Inter Miami awaits on Wednesday. Against MLS club Atlanta United, where Frank de Boer was a trainer for a while, Martino thinks Messi (36) is ready for a starting place. Midfielder Sergio Busquets (35) is now also sufficiently fit to start the duel with Atlanta United. Left back Jordi Alba, who also came over from FC Barcelona, ​​could make his debut.

Nick Marsman watched from the stands at Messi’s debut for Inter Miami. The 32-year-old goalkeeper from Zwolle made the transfer-free transfer from Feyenoord to Inter Miami two years ago. In his first season he played thirty more games, but this season he only played twice for the Florida club. Last month, Marsman ended up in hospital after being bitten by a poisonous spider at a zoo.