Lionel Messi has transformed Inter Miami’s fortunes forever after the Argentine international made the move to Florida last summer.
The 37-year-old attacker swapped Europe for Florida after nearly 20 years playing at the highest level in soccer with FC Barcelona and PSG, with Messi since becoming a superstar in MLS with Inter Miami, guiding the Herons to the Supporters’ Shield title.
Although Messi’s game time has been limited due to international commitments and injuries, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has been a revelation in the United States, with the forward taking soccer to a whole new level.
And teammate Oscar Ustari has now shared what Messi is really like off the field.
Messi ‘handles everything so well’ away from Inter Miami duty
Speaking to TN, the former Argentina international was full of praise for how Messi is away from the soccer field, with Ustari lauding his lifelong friend on how normal and kind he is off the pitch.
Ustari and Messi were in the same Argentina youth set-up with the pair also playing a handful of times with the senior squad, with the forward since becoming a legend for his national team and winning the South American nation two Copa Americas and the FIFA World Cup.
And for Ustari, Messi is as normal as one could be away from the pitch for someone of his talents, the goalkeeper said: “As a friend, I see the same Leo as always. Obviously, due to his age, many things are changing.
“He always had potential, but I never stop appreciating the kind of person and the heart he has for his friends. Everything he does on the pitch is surprising. He handles everything so well, being who he is.”
Messi’s off-the-field persona makes him as great as he is
Messi has always been regarded as a humble person away from the field, which is what makes the Inter Miami captain as legendary a player as he is given how much talking the forward does on the pitch.
Whilst the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo are viewed as larger-than-life characters away from the action, Messi goes about his non-sporting life like any normal person, with his friends in soccer a huge fan of this quality.
Indeed, Messi is as great as he is because of how ordinary he comes across when the ball isn’t at his feet, and the attacker winning praise off the field is a testament to the Argentine’s qualities as a human being.