Lionel Messi partakes in first training session since signing with Miami: Watch

Jogging a lap with his new teammates Lionel Messi on Tuesday took part in a warmup drill of players making short passes in a tight circle and before long tapped his left foot at a ball that wound up in the back of an open netWith two gallops back to the line as if he was trying to feel his legs under him his first practice with Inter Miami CF was well underwayInter Miamis new star wasted no time fitting right inThe World Cup winner and seventime Ballon dOr recipient took part in a training session with his new Major League Soccer club for the first time on Tuesday three days after signing a 2 12 year contract thatll pay him between 50 million and 60 million a yearA helicopter hovered overhead drones buzzed around the field and about 200 media members lined up toward the back of the complex to get a look at Messi He like newly signed Sergio Busquets also a World Cup winner went through a welcome tunnel as part of the first practice which meant jogging past teammates as they lined up and clappedThe has ARRIVED Messi InterMiamiCF LaFamiliaIMCF MLS pictwittercomX8quY4Sy9Kmdash Nico Bravo NicoBravo_14 July 18 2023With Leo coming here it raises the bar again said Inter Miami coowner David Beckham who like Messi had an incredible career overseas before coming to MLS toward the end of his playing career It has the eyes of the world Not just Argentina but the eyes of the worldMessi was not made available for comment to the general media nor were any other players or coach Tata MartinoIts about legacy for him Beckham said of Messi Hes at the stage of his career where hes done everything that any soccer player can do in a sport Hes one of the greatest players if not the greatest player to ever play the game So hes still hungry Ive seen him on the training pitch I know hes still hungry Sergio is exactly the same And theyre the type of players that we want to bring to our clubMessis first match is expected to be Friday a Leagues Cup contest at home against Cruz Azul Some tickets are going for as little as 275 or so on the secondary market some of the very best seats are exceeding 19000 Prices have been fluctuating quite a bit and likely will continue doing so until game timeThen again someone might get frontrow tickets for 1 Miami Mayor Francis Suarez a Republican candidate for president has asked backers to iquestconsider making a 1 donation to get him on the debate stage iquest saying all such donors would be entered in a chance to be in the front row for Messis debut gameSuch is the power of Messi Inter Miami hasnt won an MLS match in more than two months it has gone 083 in MLS play since beating New England on May 13Making the playoffs are a long shot for Miami But there is hope for other trophies such as Leagues Cup a tournament between teams from MLS and Mexicos Liga MX with both leagues shutting down regular play for the competition and the US Open CupInter Miami is in the semifinals of the US Open Cup itll play Cincinnati in late August The final of that tournament is in September And Beckham is taking a bigpicture view of how the franchise is defining success right nowWe feel weve succeeded Beckham said Is it good enough No We want to succeed on the field We want to win trophies Thats the most important thing We do feel that succeeded but short term success We have Lionel Messi Thats success The foundations are there The foundations are there to succeedMessis decision to play in the US might be the biggest boost ever for American soccer on the pro stage Some of the games biggest names Peleacute Franz Beckenbauer Thierry Henry and Beckham himself have come to the US toward the end of their careers but landing a player still no worse than near the pinnacle of his game and just a few months removed from hoisting a World Cup is simply huge especially with part of the next World Cup in 2026 set to be played on US soilIt shouldnt be lost on anybody that the timing is right MLS Commissioner Don Garber said earlier this week Copa America will be here in 2024 Club World Cup will be here in 2025 the World Cup will be here in 2026 This is not a coincidence right Its all part of our continual focus to do everything we can to make our league a league of choice not just here but around the world and be part of the conversationWith agency inputs