Messi sips mate and watches Boca's debut at his Sub-16 tournament in Miami

While Europe is already buzzing over the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony, something else worth talking about was happening in Miami: Lionel Messi showed up at the Messi Cup fields to watch, in person, the match between Boca Juniors and UE Cornellà, the club he owns. No suit, no tie for the Best Player nominee: Leo arrived in shorts, a striped T-shirt and a pink Inter Miami hoodie draped over his shoulders, looking like someone who'd come to watch a bunch of kids play on an ordinary weekend.

And that's pretty much how it went. He sat down on a bench, pulled out his mate and stayed there, surrounded by a group of staffers, following the action at a Sub-16 tournament that he himself organizes in the city where he now lives. No VIP box, no suite: just a bench, mate and soccer.

The sweetest moment came at halftime. Blas Giunta walked over to where Messi was sitting and handed him two Boca jerseys with his last name and the number 10 printed on the back. Leo took them, posed for a photo with Giunta, and the moment was captured for anyone who follows every move the Qatar 2022 world champion makes.

Boca rout, Cornellà draw scoreless

On the field, Boca's debut at the Messi Cup couldn't have gone better: they routed Manchester City 3-0 in their tournament opener. It was a different afternoon for Cornellà, Messi's own team, which drew 0-0 with Flamengo in its first match.

For anyone looking to follow the rest of the competition, every Messi Cup match is broadcast live on ESPN and Disney+ Premium Plan, so there's no need to be in Miami to watch these Sub-16 sides keep moving forward in the tournament that carries Messi's own name.