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🇸🇪 Sweden /Sports

Follow us to Miami – the city where Messi is treated like a god

From Dagens Nyheter · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Lionel Messi is being treated like a deity in Miami, with fans flocking to restaurants and celebrating his goals as if they guarantee another World Cup victory.
  • For younger generations in Miami, Messi has already surpassed Diego Maradona in greatness, reflecting a shift in footballing idolatry.
  • Messi's move to Inter Miami has revitalized the MLS, making the league more interesting despite initial skepticism about his decision to play in the U.S.

In Miami's Little Haiti neighborhood, outside the Argentinian restaurant Fiorito, families gather to take photos in front of a mural of Lionel Messi, treating him with near-religious reverence. Natalia Sotes, the restaurant's owner, describes Messi as "historical now." During a group stage match against Austria, the restaurant's outdoor seating area erupted when Messi scored his second goal, with supporters drenching each other in beer.

Sotes believes that if Messi continues to play at this level, Argentina will win the gold again. The restaurant itself is named after Villa Fiorito, the impoverished suburb south of Buenos Aires where Diego Maradona grew up. Maradona's background fueled his myth and made him one of the world's most beloved players. A portrait of Maradona holding the 1986 World Cup trophy hangs in the restaurant, with Sotes stating, "Maradona is immortal for us. He is the greatest, but after this World Cup, Messi could be bigger."

Argentina, having won all three group stage matches, is heading to the round of 16 in the World Cup against Cape Verde. The match will be played at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, typically home to the NFL team Miami Dolphins. Among Miami's younger generation, Messi has already eclipsed Maradona. Argentinian football reporter Jerónimo Mura, 31, notes, "If you ask my father, Maradona is the greatest, but for us who grew up with Messi, he is bigger."

Mura moved to Miami three years ago when Messi signed with Inter Miami. Initially, he and others criticized Messi's move to the U.S., questioning why he would play in a "weak league" and assuming it was for money. However, Mura has since changed his mind, recognizing that Messi has not only strengthened Inter Miami but also made Major League Soccer significantly more interesting. He expressed surprise at Messi's continued performance for the national team, admitting he was skeptical before the World Cup, fearing Messi might be too old. "But that devil plays just like he always did. Small and quick. He shines," Mura said.

Messi is historical now.

— Natalia SotesOwner of the Argentinian restaurant Fiorito in Miami, describing the reverence for Lionel Messi.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dagens Nyheter in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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