Pundit Thomas Rongen has shared what he’s noticed about Lionel Messi playing for Inter Miami in the United States that he also saw in Johan Cryuff.
The Argentine international made the stunning move to MLS last summer in what will go down as one of the biggest moments in the history of soccer in America, with Messi boosting the profile of the game tenfold.
Yet the 36-year-old is hardly the first superstar to take his talents to the United States, with the likes of David Beckham, Gerd Muller and Pele all spending time in America at some point in their career.
And former MLS manager Rongen has shared what he’s noticed about Inter Miami star Messi that he saw in his former Washington Diplomats teammate and soccer legend, Cryuff.
Rongen compares Messi’s American lifestyle to Cryuff
Speaking on Inside Inter Miami, the Dutch coach noted how Messi is loving life in America due to how unfazed the general public seem to be about him being out and about, something Cryuff also loved during his two years in the NASL in the 1980s.
Rongen said: “With Argentina in the last World Cup, he went from an introvert into an extrovert, and that’s continued in the United States. He smiles every day, he’s said on multiple occasions ‘I love it here, I can go out with my kids, I haven’t done that not just in Paris, but also in Barcelona.’
“I remember my former teammate, Johan Cruyff, when he came to the NASL saying ‘oh my god, nobody is really recognizing me,’ or ‘everything is respecting my privacy when I’m out with my kids and my wife, which I haven’t been able to do in ten years.’
“So for Messi to run down the sideline and to high-five his kids on the field, that to me shows that he’s enjoying the game. He’s still playing at a high level, and I hope he plays at 2026 for Argentina at the World Cup, he’s found a new love for the game.”
Inter Miami could not be more perfect for Messi at this stage
Messi is easily one of the most famous people on the planet having dominated the world’s most popular sport for the best part of 20 years, so it’s understandable why the Argentine now seems happy in Florida.
Playing for Inter Miami, of course, puts Messi in the spotlight by being the outstanding player in the United States, yet away from the pitch, it’s clear that the attacker is enjoying being a normal person with his family.
And such a factor could not be more perfect for Messi, who at this stage in his career will want nothing more than to spend time with his family and to build a new life for himself away from soccer in Miami.