The Red Bull Arena hasn’t felt this lively since the last Hudson River derby. New York collectively took a sigh seeing Lionel Messi step onto the pitch for Leonardo Campana, to mark his MLS debut. It was only a matter of time and in the 89th minute, the 7x Ballon d’Or winner showcased why he’s one of the greatest player to ever grace the pitch.

Among many, stood a fan and teammate who has been in awe of La Pulga since the day he arrived at Miami.

Noah Allen has been in awe of Lionel Messi since day one

Noah Allen, the 19-year-old fan and teammate of Messi, doesn’t feel astonished anymore. It’s almost an everyday thing for him, seeing Messi come on the pitch and change the dynamics of the game. An Inter Miami youth academy product, never would he have, in his wildest dreams, thought about sharing the pitch with the Argentine.

In a post-match interview Allen was asked “Does what Leo Messi do still surprise you?”. Allen with a smile on his face replied, “No…he does something new everyday and you say ‘WOW’…He’s great on and off the field and I’m lucky to be playing with the Greatest Player Ever”.  

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The interviewee was struck with a sense of surprise and shock at the young star’s response. The caliber that Lionel Messi possesses and the skills he has showcased over the years do not leave much to surprise. Next on the road is Nashville SC.

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Nashville SC will be seeking revenge as Inter Miami are the hosts this time. Will there be another curler by Messi that puts Nashville behind?

A journey of a thousand miles

Inter Miami has a lot to cover and saying a lot is also undermining what the situation is right now. But, the road is looking clearer each day with Messi at Inter Miami’s disposal. Miami currently stands 14th in the MLS standings, having played two fewer league games than the league leaders, Cincinnati FC. To qualify for the final series will be a tedious job for Beckham’s side. Nevertheless, adding silverware to the cabinet, the motivation and determination will be stronger than before.

The little magician might seem godly but he too has his limits and he is coming close to them. Gerardo Martino, Inter Miami’s manager, states in a post-match conference after the Open Cup win against Cincinnati, “We’ve played eight games. It’s clear that Leo, just like many other players, is arriving at an important physical limit. From today on, we’ll begin to evaluate how to handle, at minimum, the next three games.”

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Do you think Martino should start Lionel Messi in the next game? Let us know in the comments below.