Thiago Messi Follows in His Father Lionel’s Footsteps at Newell’s Cup

When your father is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, it’s no surprise that his children might choose to follow in his footsteps.

For Thiago Messi, son of eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, it seems that football is already in his future.

At just 12 years old, Thiago took to the field for Inter Miami’s under-13 team during the Newell’s Cup in Rosario, Argentina, on Monday.

Wearing his father’s iconic number 10 jersey, he competed in the prestigious youth tournament, which brings together eight clubs from both North and South America for five days of football.

Thiago’s father, Lionel Messi, was born in Rosario, where Newell’s Old Boys are based, and spent five years at the club’s youth academy before joining Barcelona’s La Masia at the age of 13.

Lionel Messi’s career has been nothing short of extraordinary, with 13 league titles, four Champions League trophies, and a World Cup win in 2022, as well as Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024.

Though Lionel Messi himself was not at the game, a banner of him kissing the World Cup hung in the stadium, watching over his son. Thiago’s mother, Antonela Roccuzzo, and his grandparents, Jorge and Celia Messi, were present in the stands as they watched Inter Miami’s under-13s lose 1-0 to the host team, Newell’s Old Boys.

Also playing for Inter Miami’s youth team was Benjamin Suarez, the son of the club’s striker Luis Suarez.

Inter Miami’s young squad will return to action on Tuesday, facing Uruguayan club Penarol 91.