Overview
- Lionel Messi inaugurated the second Messi Cup on Sunday with a short speech urging players to enjoy the experience and produced a lighthearted moment when he realized his remarks needed translation.
- The tournament has been expanded to 16 U‑16 teams and 48 matches and runs from Oct. 25 to Nov. 1 at Miami venues including Chase Stadium.
- Group-stage play began on the first day with notable results including Boca’s 3‑0 win over a Manchester club, Ajax 2‑1 Inter, Palmeiras 2‑0 Barcelona, Inter Miami 2‑1 Independiente del Valle and Atlético de Madrid 2‑0 Benfica.
- Messi watched matches from a VIP box with Rodrigo De Paul and his sons, and his red‑and‑white branded jacket during the River‑Chelsea game triggered wide discussion on social media.
- The event guarantees multiple games for each club, features top European and South American academies, and aims to boost exposure for young players while linking Messi’s sporting stature to his commercial project.