[Photo courtesy of Inter Miami]
By Eugene Oyier
World Cup winner Lionel Messi, 36, has been appointed as the new captain of Inter Miami, confirmed by coach Tata Martino on Monday.
Upon his recent signing with Miami, Messi donned the captain’s armband in his debut during a Leagues Cup tie against Liga MX’s Cruz Azul on Friday, where he scored a stunning stoppage-time free-kick.
The club’s previous captain, Brazilian midfielder Gregore, is sidelined with a foot injury, paving the way for Messi to assume the leadership role.
When asked about Messi’s captaincy, Martino asserted, “Yes, he will be,” indicating the star’s continued role as captain.
Inter Miami aims to secure advancement to the knockout stages of the Leagues Cup, a World Cup-style tournament featuring all teams from MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX, as they face Atlanta United in the final game of the two-game group stage on Wednesday.