Boy who told Messi 'I love you' before match reveals captain's reaction

A heartwarming moment captured before Argentina's match against Switzerland has gone viral, showing a nine-year-old boy, Ziki, expressing his admiration for Lionel Messi. The spontaneous interaction happened in the tunnel just moments before the teams were set to enter the field for the national anthems.

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He laughed

Ziki broke protocol, moved ahead in the line of children accompanying the players, and directly told Messi, "Messi, I love you." The captain of Inter Miami appeared to smile at the boy's heartfelt declaration. Ziki later shared that Messi "laughed" in response to his gesture.

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There are no words.

His father recounted the extensive process Ziki went through to earn a spot alongside the players. The opportunity arose through the school Ziki attends in the United States, an institution that combines academics with football training. Through strategic partnerships with local companies, the school was able to secure spots for children to accompany the teams in Kansas City.

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I found out about three months ago that Ziki was going to go in, then I found out he would be with Argentina.

"I found out about three months ago that Ziki was going to go in, then I found out he would be with Argentina," Ziki's father explained. He added that the school director arranged a special surprise for him as an Argentinian parent. Ziki had previously accompanied Thiago Almada onto the field against Algeria and then Lisandro Martínez against Switzerland, but this direct interaction with Messi was particularly special for the family, who described the experience as "miraculous."

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When the school director found out we were going, he told me: ‘I’m going to take you, you’re Argentinian, I’m going to give you a big surprise.’