Lionel Messi picked up from Inter Miami’s managing owner Jorge Mas, and the director of the newspaper Marca, Juan Ignacio Gallardo, the Brand America Award as the player with the most titles in the history of football.
The ceremony took place this Thursday at the team’s facility at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale and was attended by representatives of the sports newspaper, the consul general of Spain in Miami, Jaime Lacadena and Higuera, Messi’s wife, Antonella Roccuzzo, different personalities, and local media.
Messi entered with Roccuzzo after 12 noon to receive a much-deserved tribute and full of symbolism. Gallardo welcomed everyone and commented on the reasons that led to Leo’s award in the United States, after winning 46 titles, which make him the real champion of champions.
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In my eight years as director of Brand I have had the honor of giving Leo Messi enough prizes. But this occasion is different, Gallardo said.
I know I’ll never give this recognition of the footballer with more collective and individual titles in history to any other player, for the simple reason that no one will get over you, Leo.
Jorge Mas later welcomed those present and referred to how much the presence of Messi has meant for the club
“Welcome to the Inter Miami house, which is Messi’s house, too. Today it is a privilege to honor Lionel Messi as the champion of champions because there is no other football trajectory comparable to his own,” Mas said.
Today I would like to highlight not only the footballer but the man I know, a family man and businessman, with a deep relationship with his wife Antonela. The creation of Inter Miami emerged from a family dream and Lionel has been the figure who has transformed this dream into reality. Their integrity and dedication are worthy of admiration and respect.
At the end, a painting by Messi by the artist Javier Tortosa loaded with symbolism was shown, in which he overlaps with an Argentine flag in his open arms in a typical image of Leo celebrating one of his goals in the Argentina shirt.
This gave way to the sample of a video of Messi’s trajectory showing the achievement of his 46 collective titles, in addition to the 56 individual titles, as a prelude to the Marca America award by Mas and Gallardo.
Leo thanked this recognition by holding the sculpture of the Argentine artist Carlos Benavidez and answered the questions asked by the director of Marca.
About all that, the love I have for this sport, I try to be always to the fullest and the step of coming here is not a retreat but enjoying making this club great, which has a short career, and helping its growth by winning titles. Luckily we’ve made it and we’re close to getting one more and hopefully it will be.
I feel good, and physically strong and hopefully, I can do something to finish in the best way. Thank God I was able to fulfill all my dreams, including the biggest dream which is to win a World Cup, and now we’re close to getting one more, so the goal is to try it as usual and fight to get many more things.
Messi won 46 titles with Argentina, Barcelona, PSG, and now with Inter Miami, the team with the last one, the Supporters Shield, on October 2.
Among the individual prizes that stand out are his eight Golden Balls, six Golden Boots, and La Liga’s top scorer and top scorer of his selection. Leo is living a magical moment with both Argentina and Inter Miami.
With the Argentina he scored three goals and gave two assists in his last match against Bolivia in the elimination towards the 2026 World Cup.
With Inter Miami it is aimed at breaking the league’s points record and achieving the MLS Cup. The Argentine star has participated in 32 goals of his team.