A happy Messi is good news for Miami - and Argentina
Lionel Messi provided the perfect finish to start his career with Inter Miami with a brilliant winning goal on Friday but what may be most significant from his debut was how totally happy he looks again.
So much of the focus since Messi said he was moving to Miami from Paris Saint-Germain has been on what the move will mean for Major League Soccer and for the business of soccer in the USA.
Somewhat lost in the hype around the move has been what it all means for the 36-year-old Argentine star himself.
Messi went from the ultimate high of winning the World Cup in December to looking miserable in Paris, where he was booed by PSG's fans in his final game.
Since arriving in South Florida though, Messi has had a smile on his face again and his comments, always in Spanish, have been peppered with the word "contento".
He looks happy, sounds happy and everyone around him is smiling.
"We knew it was important for us to start this tournament with a win. Luckily we were able to do it at the end and I’m very happy," he said after his 94th minute winner, with a trademark curling free-kick, in the 2-1 victory over Mexico's Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup.
"I’m very happy to be here, with the team and my family. We’re very happy with this choice. I want to thank the people once again. I hope we continue this way and that they keep joining us all year because for us this is very important," he added.
LIONEL ANDRÉS MESSI IS NOT HUMAN. pic.twitter.com/2mBDI41mLy— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 22, 2023
Messi is a superstar but he has always appeared a somewhat reluctant celebrity.
Unlike David Beckham, the biggest name to move to MLS before Messi and now co-owner of the Argentine's new club, or his contemporary Cristiano Ronaldo, the
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