Lionel Messi’s Joyful Life in Florida after “Turbulent” 2 Years in Paris

Lionel Messi, despite meeting celebrities on the sidelines and celebrating with his family, appears truly content with his life in Florida. The first thing he does after scoring a goal is to embrace his children, showing no concern for his teammates, the cheering fans, or the long queue of famous figures waiting to capture every moment on film. Following his spectacular free-kick goal in injury time to secure Inter Miami’s victory, Messi wanted to share that moment with his family. He is finding joy in both life and every game here.

Two Turbulent Years in Paris

Messi’s time at PSG became dull towards the end. While moments of brilliance persisted, such as his free-kicks, long-range efforts, and assists, his relentless work rate and explosive dribbles seemed to be missing.

Blamed inexplicably for PSG’s European failures since early February, Messi faced the wrath of fans rather than focusing on the defensive mistakes that led to their Champions League exit. This attitude made Messi’s experience in Paris dreadful. This is the greatest player of all time, given a fresh opportunity after being forced to leave his former club, and yet he faced criticism from his own fans.

It must be acknowledged that Messi is not without fault. Sometimes, he was criticized for his efforts or lack thereof. However, even in the worst phase of his career, Messi managed to score 22 goals and provide 33 assists in 58 matches. What more could PSG fans possibly demand?

Joy in Miami

Now, it’s time for a revival. Winning the World Cup undoubtedly brought relief, as Messi finally silenced his critics by adding the missing trophy to his illustrious collection. Success also allows Messi to shape the final years of his career according to his wishes. Though Miami might not have been his first choice, as he desired to return to Barcelona, it could prove to be the most exciting one.

Since officially committing to Inter Miami in an 18-month contract, Messi has been making it as thrilling as possible. It began with some phone calls to old friends. Busquets was the first to join, signing with the club shortly after Messi. Jordi Alba is next and will join the team sometime next week.

Luis Suarez is said to be part of the plan, though this might not happen until the end of 2023 after Gremio rejected Miami’s mid-season offer. And, perhaps less certain, Andres Iniesta has been contacted. The Spanish midfielder repeatedly denied leaving Vissel Kobe in Japan when his contract expires, but he recently stated in his final interview with the club that he intends to continue his career elsewhere.

If all five of them come to Miami, they won’t be able to play every match together, and there will be times when they are outperformed by younger players. Nevertheless, it will always be an event, 90 minutes of pure football excitement. And that’s something that Messi and his former teammates truly deserve.

Freedom from Pressure

In a farewell interview at PSG, Messi talked extensively about the pressure of playing for a club. Every move was scrutinized, every pass questioned. If PSG lost or dropped points – something that occurred frequently under Christophe Galtier – Messi was the first to face fans’ criticisms.

Barcelona was considered the pinnacle of Messi’s football pressure, a city that nurtured and yearned for his success. But that acceptance came with the unconditional love of the fans. Even if Messi failed at Barcelona, he would still be adored because he cared. However, at PSG, the constant intensity without the nurturing caused consequences. Messi clearly wasn’t happy when his time in Paris ended.

Now, there is no pressure. The Argentine player can succeed or suffer as he wishes. Miami can win every match 5-0 or lose 1-3. Messi is here to be watched, not judged. In fact, he is too great to be criticized by the American soccer forums and MLS. Objectively, it also helps Miami, a struggling team. They currently sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings in MLS, trailing by 12 points to reach a playoff spot.