The children of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez have shone together for Inter Miami.
The Inter Miami boys travelled hundreds of miles to make their youth team debuts against Penarol in the Newell’s Cup. Both boys impressed despite their teams losing in Rosario, Argentina.
Thiago Messi, 12, donned his father’s legendary number 10 shirt and made a pass that even the Barcelona legend would be proud of.
After receiving the ball just outside the penalty area, Thiago played an exquisite, precise pass straight to his teammate, who then beat an opponent but fired wide. Although Thiago did not get an assist, his close friend Benjamin Suarez, son of Luis Suarez, scored the only goal for the team. The boy showed his father’s instinct for goals when he met the pass from the wing and fired a powerful shot into the net.
Messi’s wife, Antonella, watched the match from the stands, while Inter Miami also faced Newell’s Old Boys, where Messi grew up in his early days.
Although Messi’s side lost 0-1 in that match, they bounced back strongly with a win over Penarol, thanks in part to impressive performances from Thiago Messi and Suarez Jr.
The boys entered the Newell’s Cup with Inter Miami, in the tenth edition of the youth tournament, which brings together eight clubs from North and South America.
Fans were impressed with the boys’ performance, with one describing Thiago as a “football star.” Another fan commented: “Luis Suarez’s son, Benjamin, seems to have inherited his penchant for nutmegging everyone around him, or at least that’s what it looks like.”