Daily News 19

Tag: Casemiro

  • Lionel Messi’s Sweaty Embrace Sparks Ciro’s Unexpected Reaction, Leaves Both Laughing After Inter Miami Win

    Lionel Messi’s Sweaty Embrace Sparks Ciro’s Unexpected Reaction, Leaves Both Laughing After Inter Miami Win

    Key Highlights

    • Lionel Messi celebrated Inter Miami’s 2-0 Campeones Cup victory over Cruz Azul with his three sons in a candid, sweaty family moment on the field.
    • Youngest son Ciro sparked laughter by touching Messi’s sweat-soaked jersey and smelling his hand, while Thiago initially hesitated before embracing his father.
    • Messi scored his 100th goal for Inter Miami to open the scoring before Casemiro sealed the win on September 16, 2024.

    Messi’s Historic Night Ends in Unscripted Family Comedy

    Lionel Messi added another milestone to his storied career on September 16, netting his 100th goal for Inter Miami as the Herons dispatched Cruz Azul 2-0 to lift the 2026 Campeones Cup at Chase Stadium. Yet the image that lingered longest from the Florida night had nothing to do with statistics or silverware. Still dripping from the exertion of a full 90 minutes, the Argentine captain walked toward the touchline where his three boys—Thiago, 11, Mateo, 8, and Ciro, 6—waited, turning a routine post-match embrace into a spontaneous slice of family life broadcast to millions.

    The Sweat Check That Stole the Show

    Ciro, the youngest of the Messi clan, provided the evening’s most genuine humor. After tentatively patting his father’s soaked shoulder, the six-year-old lifted his hand to his nose, inhaling deeply with the curiosity only a child could muster. Messi, ever expressive, caught the gesture instantly. Father and son locked eyes and erupted in shared laughter, a moment of unfiltered connection that no choreographed celebration could replicate. Cameras caught Mateo watching the exchange with a grin, while Thiago, approaching adolescence, wore the look of a boy negotiating the boundary between public coolness and private affection.

    From Reluctance to Embrace

    Thiago’s hesitation was palpable. He pulled a exaggerated face, wiping his palms on his shorts as if preparing for an unpleasant chore, before finally surrendering to the pull of family gravity and wrapping his arms around his father’s neck. The progression—from comedic recoil to wholehearted hug—encapsulated the unique dynamic of growing up Messi: equal parts global spectacle and ordinary bedtime routine. By the time the confetti settled, all three boys were clinging to their father, the weight of a historic 100th club goal rendered secondary to the gravity of dad coming home.

    Why This Matters

    The Campeones Cup triumph marks Inter Miami’s second piece of silverware in 2024, following the Leagues Cup title, and underscores the immediate impact of a roster built around Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and now Casemiro. The Brazilian midfielder’s late strike—his first for the club—signaled depth beyond the headline names. Yet the post-match scenes also humanize a franchise often viewed through a purely commercial lens. In a league striving for mainstream cultural relevance, unscripted authenticity—especially involving the world’s most recognizable athlete—generates organic reach that marketing budgets cannot buy. With the MLS Cup playoffs looming, the psychological boost of a trophy and a healthy, happy captain could prove decisive.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What competition did Inter Miami win on September 16?
    Inter Miami defeated Cruz Azul 2-0 to win the 2026 Campeones Cup, a single-match showdown between the reigning MLS Cup and Liga MX champions.
    How many goals has Lionel Messi scored for Inter Miami?
    The opening goal against Cruz Azul was Messi’s 100th in all competitions for the club since his July 2023 arrival.
    Who scored Inter Miami’s second goal?
    Casemiro, the Brazilian midfielder signed from Manchester United in August 2024, netted the insurance goal in the second half.
  • Casemiro backs Messi to win Ballon d’Or: ‘He's still the best’

    Casemiro backs Messi to win Ballon d’Or: ‘He's still the best’

    Key Highlights

    • Inter Miami midfielder Casemiro publicly endorses teammate Lionel Messi as a contender for the 2026 Ballon d’Or award.
    • The Brazilian World Cup winner declares Messi “still the best” despite the Argentine forward approaching his 39th birthday.
    • The verdict signals growing confidence within the Inter Miami locker room ahead of a pivotal 2025-26 season spanning MLS, Leagues Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup.

    Casemiro’s Bold Prediction for Messi’s 2026 Ballon d’Or Prospects

    Inter Miami’s high-profile midfield addition Casemiro has thrown the weight of his considerable reputation behind Lionel Messi’s bid to claim an unprecedented ninth Ballon d’Or in 2026. The five-time UEFA Champions League winner, who arrived at Chase Stadium this summer after a trophy-laden spell at Manchester United, assessed his new captain’s chances with unambiguous clarity. “He’s still the best.” The verdict, delivered without qualification, underscores the reverence Messi continues to command from elite peers even in the twilight phase of an historic career.

    The Inter Miami Connection Reshapes Expectations

    Casemiro’s endorsement carries particular resonance given his front-row seat to Messi’s daily routine since joining the Herons. The 32-year-old Brazilian international operates as the midfield anchor tasked with providing the defensive solidity and distribution platform that allows Miami’s attacking talisman to conserve energy and influence matches decisively. Their on-field partnership, still in its embryonic stages, has already produced glimpses of the telepathic understanding that characterized Messi’s most dominant Barcelona eras. With the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and a congested 2026 World Cup qualifying calendar looming, the synergy between South America’s two most decorated active players could determine both club and continental fortunes.

    Historical Precedent and the Age Barrier

    Messi would be 39 years old by the time the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony takes place, an age at which only Stanley Matthews (1956) and Fabio Cannavaro (2006) have previously claimed football’s most prestigious individual honor. However, the Argentine’s 2023 triumph at age 36 already rewrote the record books for oldest winner. Casemiro’s insistence that his teammate remains the sport’s premier performer suggests the Inter Miami camp views chronological age as secondary to Messi’s sustained output—18 goals and 12 assists across 22 appearances in his debut MLS campaign—and the unique tournament structure awaiting in 2026, where a potential World Cup swansong on home soil could provide the narrative crescendo voters historically reward.

    Why This Matters

    The Casemiro-Messi alliance represents more than a feel-good storyline for Major League Soccer; it encapsulates the league’s accelerating trajectory toward global relevance. When a player of Casemiro’s pedigree—four Champions League titles, five Club World Cups, a Copa América, and over 70 Brazil caps—voluntarily departs Europe’s elite tier to join Messi in Miami, it signals a paradigm shift in player power dynamics and league perception. The 2026 Ballon d’Or conversation will inevitably orbit around the FIFA World Cup hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, where Messi could captain Argentina in defense of their 2022 crown. A deep run, combined with MLS silverware and Club World Cup success, would construct a compelling portfolio for voters. Casemiro’s public backing also reflects Inter Miami’s internal culture under Javier Mascherano, where veteran leadership is empowered to shape narrative and accountability.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Has Casemiro played with Messi before joining Inter Miami?

    No. Casemiro and Messi never shared a club team prior to the Brazilian’s 2024 move to Inter Miami. They faced each other numerous times in El Clásico matches during Casemiro’s Real Madrid tenure and in Argentina-Brazil internationals, but this is their first experience as teammates.

    What competitions could boost Messi’s 2026 Ballon d’Or case?

    The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup (expanded 32-team format), the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, and the 2025-26 MLS season including Leagues Cup and CONCACAF Champions Cup all offer high-visibility platforms for Messi to accumulate trophies and standout performances before voting concludes.

    How many Ballon d’Or awards has Messi won previously?

    Lionel Messi holds the all-time record with eight Ballon d’Or titles (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023). A ninth in 2026 would extend his lead over Cristiano Ronaldo (five) to four.

  • Casemiro Puts Messi Ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo: “He is still the best”

    Casemiro Puts Messi Ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo: “He is still the best”

    Lionel Messi has quickly lived up to the expectations that followed Casemiro to Inter Miami just over a month ago. The Brazilian midfielder already knew what Messi could do after facing the Argentine in numerous club and international matches. Now, however, Casemiro is enjoying having Messi as a teammate and makes no secret of his admiration.

    Following Messi’s latest four-goal performance against Montreal, Casemiro praised both the forward’s ability and his influence on the team.

    “This is what it means to have Messi on your team. He showed it at the World Cup. We have to enjoy these moments because he is a player and a person who keeps making history,” he said after witnessing his latest four-goal haul against Montreal.

    “What we saw today is something we have to enjoy. We must keep supporting him and competing alongside him because he is still the best. This is what Messi continues to show the world. With him, we really are much stronger,” he added.

    Casemiro wanted to play alongside Messi

    Casemiro previously spent years playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at both Real Madrid and Manchester United, during a period when the Portuguese forward was regularly praised and ranked above Messi. Despite that history, the midfielder had made it clear that he did not want to finish his career without sharing a dressing room with Messi.

    That ambition became reality on July 22, when Casemiro left Europe to continue his career in the United States alongside the Argentine superstar.

    Casemiro scores first Inter Miami goal

    Inter Miami’s latest match also featured a significant contribution from Casemiro. The Herons recorded a historic 7-1 victory over Montreal, and the Brazilian scored his first goal for the club.

    Casemiro opened the scoring with a header from a corner kick, helping Inter Miami end a difficult run under Kily González, who replaced Guillermo Hoyos.