Lionel Messi: Leo Messi seems to have adapted to life at Inter Miami and he’s enjoying it. In his recent matches for Miami, Messi is channelling his inner Marvel’s Avengers during celebrations. The World Cup winner has appeared in three Miami matches so far. His first one was a ‘Thor’ celebration during their match against Atlanta United. He next did a ‘Wakanda Forever’ celebration in today’s knockout win against Orlando City. There seems to be a pattern to his new celebrations that could continue through Miami’s next matches as well.
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Lionel Messi made his debut for Inter Miami in their first Leagues Cup game against Cruz Azul. He scored the winning goal for Miami in that match. In the next match against Atlanta United, he scored two more goals. In that match, he did the ‘Thor’s hammer’ celebration where he pointed his arm with his hand cupped toward his sons present in the audience. His recent Marvel Avengers-related celebration came in today’s match against Orlando City. He scored another brace and this time crossed his hands over his chest in the ‘Wakanda Forever’ celebration.
Leo Messi has a few signature celebrations which are mostly not flashy. Over the course of his career, he has been recognized for his celebration of pointing his hands at the sky. In the celebration, he thanks his grandmother who helped him during his childhood days and passed away in 1998. This has been his celebration most of the time after he scored a goal for Barcelona, PSG, or Argentina national team. It followed him to the United States and to Inter Miami as well.
There have been a few exceptions to his goal celebrations over the length of his career that stood out. These flashy celebrations always had a strong and dedicated meaning to them. One of his most iconic celebrations during his time at Barcelona was holding his shirt up to the Real Madrid fans at Santiago Bernabeu. The celebration came after scoring the winning goal for Barcelona in an El Clasico in 2017. This also turned out to be his 500th goal for Barcelona.
Another of his most iconic celebration came very recently during the World Cup 2022 quarter-finals against the Netherlands. The Dutch team’s coach Louis Van Gaal probably angered the Argentina captain by saying, it isn’t “difficult to come up with an answer as to how to stop him”. Messi scored a goal in the match, went to the sideline where Van Gaal was sitting, and did the signature Juan Roman Riquelme celebration of cupping his ears. Reportedly, Van Gaal wrongfully ousted Riquelme from Barcelona which inspired the celebration.
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His ‘Thor’ celebration was previously misunderstood by fans all over the world. Many people thought that it was actually a ‘Hold my beer’ celebration, pointed towards David Beckham. Messi has formed a good bond with Beckham since the England legend helped him move to Miami. Additionally, these were not Messi’s first Marvel celebration. His first Marvel celebration dates back to 2020. Messi scored his 700th career goal against Atletico Madrid in 2020 and did a ‘Thanos Snap’ celebration.
MLS will be especially happy to see Messi back with Marvel-themed celebrations even though they are dedicated to his sons. Mainly because MLS entered into a partnership in June with Marvel. They unveiled an Avengers-themed ball and Captain America-themed apparel for the recent MLS All-Star game.
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