Lionel Messi and his former Barcelona teammate, now at Inter Miami, took a night off to watch the Miami Heat in the NBA Playoffs on Monday.
The Inter Miami star and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi sat alongside Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez. They arrived just before tip-off of the Heat vs Boston Celtics .
Messi’s group — some clad in Heat attire and Busquets wearing a Heat hoodie — arrived in the players’ parking garage, then were brought in through a VIP entrance before making their way to their seats in a suite atop the lower level.
Messi, Suárez, Alba and Busquets in the building 👀@MiamiHEAT // @InterMiamiCF pic.twitter.com/HBgMW4rdjF
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) April 29, 2024
Messi has been to the Kaseya Center, home of the Miami Heat, before for at least one other event, but never before had arranged to be at a game since moving to Miami last year.
Inter Miami are top of the Eastern Conference standings in the Major League Soccer with six wins, three draws and two losses in 11 games with 21 points - three clear of Cincinnati.
MESSI IN THE HOUSE ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/s4vP9qI7VY
— NBA (@NBA) April 30, 2024
Messi had two goals and an assist in Inter Miami’s 4-1 win at New England on Saturday, and has multiple assists in five straight matches — the first MLS player ever to do that. He has nine goals and seven assists in seven matches with Inter Miami this season.
(with inputs from AP)
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