Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami one year ago this summer, and it’s safe to say that the Argentine has transformed the Herons forever.
In 12 months, the Florida franchise have gone from the worst team in MLS to the best, with Inter Miami currently leading the Supporters’ Shield race with Tata Martino’s side also the favorites to retain their Leagues Cup title.
Whilst Messi is recovering from an ankle injury, the Herons have thrived without the reigning Ballon d’Or winner, with the standards at Inter Miami across the board rising exponentially since the 37-year-old’s arrival.
And youngster David Ruiz has shared what it’s like to play alongside Messi for Inter Miami.
David Ruiz living the ‘dream’ with Inter Miami alongside Messi
Speaking to Inter Miami’s official YouTube channel, the Honduras international revealed that he is living the ‘dream’ with Inter Miami, with Ruiz now a regular for the Herons and striking up a good connection with Messi.
At 20-years-old, the midfielder is learning under the greatest to ever play the game in Messi, with Ruiz also taking in key lessons from the likes of Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba, alongside the rest of Inter Miami’s youngsters.
And for Ruiz, playing alongside Messi is the ultimate career goal, with the Florida-born talent revealing that he never thought he’d get the chance to play with the Argentine international in his career.
Ruiz replied if he thought he’d play with Messi: “No, I didn’t. I was just trying to break in with the first-team, and it was crazy, everything was going my way and then when Messi came in, it was mind blowing, I really didn’t expect that. I was a little kid watching him play, and now playing with him is a dream.”
Ruiz is getting the best education possible in soccer
Ruiz has this year established himself as one of Inter Miami’s many promising youngsters, with Diego Gomez already securing a club-record transfer to Brighton & Hove Albion this summer.
With Benjamin Cremaschi, Tomas Aviles and Yannick Bright also all thriving at Inter Miami this year, Ruiz and his fellow youngsters are getting the best education possible in soccer in playing with the likes of Messi.
And in the years to come, there’s a real chance that Ruiz and more Inter Miami prospects could make the move to Europe based on what they’ve learnt from Messi and the knowledge the Argentine has passed down, with the forward the best teacher possible in the game.