Overview
- Messi inaugurated the second Messi Cup on Oct. 25 and spoke directly to the participating under-16 players, urging them to enjoy the experience beyond results.
- During the opening ceremony he cracked a joke to the translator, saying “I forgot you had to translate, I made it really long, didn’t I?,” a moment that went viral.
- The tournament doubled to 16 clubs for its second edition and uses a format that guarantees six matches per team through group play and separate Cup and consolation stages.
- Opening-day results included Newell's Old Boys 1-0 Arsenal, Boca Juniors 3-0 Manchester City and River Plate 0-0 Chelsea, highlighting strong showings from Argentine clubs.
- Messi watched matches from a box with teammates and his sons, accepted a Boca jersey gift and remained in the U.S. instead of traveling to London, linking the event to his 525 Rosario production and brand focus on youth development.