Since Messi’s arrival in MLS, we have seen a remarkable fan base in America for football. The grounds were full and broadcasters also got big numbers in the first month of Messi with Inter Miami. His shirt with the number 10 is in huge demand. Suppliers of the Inter Miami shirts are struggling to complete the demand and we are seeing a big revolution in the US which can help MLS in the future.
Inter Miami recently won their first trophy with Messi and the magic is all over America. Miami beat Nashville SC in the final to win the Leagues Cup and Messi won his 44th trophy. The Argentine swapped his shirt with Dax McCarty who was playing for the opposition team. Both swapped shirts after the game and McCarty shared a picture smiling with Messi’s jersey at home. He declared “the night wasn’t a total loss” before addressing his frustration with the result.
McCarty would have had to abide by Messi’s strict rule regarding the post-match swap but we saw a rare exception. Four years back, the former Barca legend said that he will swap shirts, but he won’t ask opposing players to do so. Meanwhile, the honour has only been reserved for Zinedine Zidane.
Messi faced Real Madrid in El Clasico and that phase was the golden phase in La Liga. During an El Clasico, Messi faced Zidane and he couldn’t resist the opportunity to get the jersey of the Frenchman. Messi previously spoke to TyC Sports, “I don’t ask for shirts, I usually swap them, but I asked Zidane once. If there is an Argentine I swap it with him, but, unless someone asks me, I’m not asking anyone.”
Even there was an incident when Angel Gomes was stunned when they exchanged jerseys during Messi’s time at PSG. The former Man United man asked him for his shirt. “It was just like a fanboy moment, like, I can’t lie. (Messi) gave me his shirt, he took his t-shirt off and he gave it to me,” Gomes revealed in an interview earlier this year.
He also added, “And for me, I was like, ‘Alright, happy days’ like, cheers, and he was like, ‘Wait, are you not giving me your shirt?’ And I was like, ‘What? You want my shirt?’ And he was like ‘Yeah!’ So I was like, ‘Alright.’
“From watching him on TV, watching videos of him actually playing, to playing against him and getting his shirt, like, it was surreal for me.”
Lionel Messi’s fan following is huge among professional footballers. He is getting huge love in the US and fans are coming in large numbers to watch him play. The World Cup winner will soon make his debut in MLS and the gathering will be full. In his debut game, big celebs also joined to support Inter Miami. He recently handed over the captain arm-band to his teammate who was the captain before Messi’s arrival.
