Josef Martínez, the Venezuelan striker who played for Inter Miami in 2023, opened up about the transformative effect of Lionel Messi’s arrival at the club. In mid-2023, Lionel Messi shook up Major League Soccer (MLS) by announcing his move to Inter Miami after departing PSG as a free agent.

When Messi arrived in the United States, Inter Miami hired a personal bodyguard for its captain. Yassine Cheuko went viral for his constant shadowing of Messi on and off the field, as well as the speed at which he ran onto the field to stop the threat of pitch invaders.

Lionel Messi scored his first goal in five matches, and Inter Miami returned to its winning ways with a 4-1 win against the New York Red Bulls.