From South Florida to the Argentine interior, Lionel Messi’s latest week has connected a club trophy with a message for a home delegation. After leading Inter Miami past Mexico’s Cruz Azul in the Campeones Cup, the Argentina captain recorded a video salute for athletes taking part in the XIII South American Games in Santa Fe.
Miami’s 2-0 win over Cruz Azul brought another landmark for Messi. He scored once and set up the other goal, reaching 100 goals for the Florida club while helping it secure the fifth trophy in its history. Each of those titles has arrived during Messi’s time with the team.
The match also added to the forward’s extraordinary senior totals: 925 goals and 426 assists, leaving him close to 1,500 direct goal contributions. Yet, a day after the final, his attention shifted from the celebrations around Inter Miami to the competitors representing Argentina across several sports.
A greeting for Santa Fe’s competitors
In a video released by the organisers, Messi congratulated those who had already competed at the Games, with particular recognition for medal winners. “Hello everyone, I wanted to send a big greeting to all the participants in the South American Games,” he said. “I know many of you have already competed, so congratulations to everyone who did, and to those who won medals.”
He also addressed athletes whose events are still ahead. “I want to wish the very best of luck to everyone who has not competed yet and is about to do so,” Messi added.
The message prompted an immediate response across Argentine and South American sporting accounts. The Games’ organisers thanked the captain, while ODESUR played on the name of the event mascot, a capybara named Capi, by asking for a photograph of “Capi with the Capi”. The official Olympic account replied that “everyone loves you”, and Atletas Argentinos posted its affection alongside a blue heart.
Argentina’s place in the medal race
The South American Games run from 12 to 26 September, spread between Rosario, Santa Fe and Rafaela. More than 4,000 competitors from 15 countries have gathered in Argentina for the event.
The home team remains among the leading delegations. Argentina has collected 95 medals so far: 31 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze. Brazil leads the standings with 104 medals, while Colombia is third on 66.
For Messi, the note of encouragement arrived after another familiar club milestone, but its destination was a different sporting landscape: venues across Santa Fe province, where Argentine athletes are still chasing their own podium moments.
