In Miami, where Inter Miami’s latest trophy night carried the usual noise and confetti, Lionel Messi’s most memorable post-match moment came away from the presentation. One of his sons ran to embrace him after the final whistle, then brushed a hand across his father’s shirt and brought it to his nose.
The child’s grimace suggested that the match-worn jersey had not passed the test. Messi noticed the reaction and burst into laughter, turning a family exchange into the small, unscripted scene that travelled quickly across social media after the celebrations.
The moment followed Inter Miami’s 2-0 victory over Cruz Azul in the Champions Cup final. Messi opened the scoring and, in doing so, reached 100 goals for the club in only 115 appearances.
It was another significant landmark in a career already crowded with them. The Champions Cup became Messi’s 45th senior trophy, while it added to the titles he has collected since arriving in South Florida: the Leagues Cup in 2023 and the MLS title in 2025.
For Inter Miami, the evening delivered both another piece of silverware and another Messi milestone. Yet as the celebrations moved beyond the pitch, it was the shirt, the grimace and the captain’s laughter that offered the most human image of the night.
