Messi mania has well and truly hit the United States as soccer fans continued to roll out the warm welcome for the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner ahead of his imminent MLS move to Inter Miami being officially confirmed.
The meal comes amid a busy week for Messi, who is expected to be officially unveiled this week, as he is believed to have undergone a medical Wednesday and met his new teammates while attending Inter Miami training Thursday, according to ESPN.
Messi attempted to leave Italian restaurant Cafe Prima Pasta in Miami Beach through the back door with his family, wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their three sons, Mateo, Thiago and Ciro, while his dad Jorge also appeared to be with them.
But even with his sneaky exit and the attempts of owner Gerardo Cea to move the crowd back, 36-year-old Messi was instantly swarmed by fans asking for photos and autographs.
Lionel Messi was kissed on the cheek as he left a Miami restaurant with his family Wednesday
The soccer superstar was swarmed by supporters looking for photos as he made for his car
One fan in an Argentina jersey stopped the soccer icon for a selfie in the street and, as he held the camera up for a snap, he snatched his chance to bizarrely kiss Messi on the cheek.
‘Leo, I love you man. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for so much,’ the supporter said to Messi in Spanish.
Messi seemed largely unfazed by the moment and moved away to catch up with his wife Antonela and their children.
Antonela, 35, was also swarmed by reporters as she led Thiago, 10, Mateo, 7, and Ciro, 5, away from the crowd.
One reporter welcomed her to Miami before trying to ask her questions. Antonela, who looked beautiful in orange palazzo pants and a white crop top, didn’t respond but smiled in acknowledgement.
The same reporter then turned back towards Messi, who was still posing for photos with his adoring fans, and surprisingly hugged the World Cup winner.
‘Welcome to Inter,’ the reporter said in Spanish as he continued to follow Messi to his car. ‘We love you. We’ve all been waiting for you.’
After the forward finally made it to his car and managed to squeeze into the driver’s door, the gaggle of fans surrounded the vehicle making it almost impossible for him to make an exit from the parking lot.
At the demand of the valet and the reporter, who he himself had been pressing his face to the car window to proclaim his love for the superstar only seconds before, the fans finally cleared the way.
The Messi family had dined at the SoFlo staple, where the most expensive main course on the menu is the skirt steak served with truffle fries and grilled asparagus at $36.95.
The restaurant’s Instagram account shared a photo of Messi and owner Cea posing for a photo in the ‘Secret Back Room’ with the forward’s eldest son Thiago playing the drums in the background.
