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Since joining Inter Miami earlier this summer, Lionel Messi has taken the American soccer world by storm.
Playing in seven matches for the club so far, Messi has already racked up ten goals while also leading the team to the Leagues Cup title, the first trophy in the history of the club.
Given that Messi’s arrival to MLS is the first time that a lot of American sports fans have really kept up with him on a weekly basis, the manner in which he plays the game — specifically, how much he seemingly walks around the pitch — has become a topic of conversation among fans.
Ferdinand on Messi: “He looks soo uninvolved, then all of a sudden, bang”
— 𝔻𝕣𝕒𝕪 (@sammy__dray) August 21, 2023
Apparently, Messi is trying to spread his knowledge of the beautiful game with his new teammates by giving them advice based on the wealth of experience and success he’s accrued since making his professional debut back in 2004.
Take 19-year-old Inter Miami midfield David Ruiz, for example, who recently detailed the advice that Messi gave him to improve his game.
“One thing Messi told me is to stand still more. He has told me to stand still in my position and the ball will come to me,” Ruiz told reporters.
Lionel Messi is passing on his goalscoring secrets 🤫 pic.twitter.com/DkLwQzdytU
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 23, 2023
And while it’s great to see Messi take an interest in helping to develop the young talent at Inter Miami, it’s also undeniably hilarious that he’s sharing advice that likely only applies to him, as he fails to realize that not many, if any soccer players have the seemingly uncanny footballing instincts that he possesses.
Messi’s next game for Inter Miami will be tonight, Wednesday, August 23 in the U.S. Open Cup against FC Cincinnati. Then, on Saturday, August 26, the 36-year-old Argentinian legend will make his official debut in an MLS regular season match when his Inter Miami side travels to Newark to take on the New York Red Bulls.