Iniesta Tips Messi for Inter Miami Success
Legendary Spanish footballer Andres Iniesta has praised the impact of his former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi at Inter Miami, stating that the Argentine has found a perfect fit in South Florida.
"Personally, I believe Messi has found an environment where he feels comfortable, at ease. He’s in a project that excites him, with an ambition to grow, and he’s surrounded by great players," Iniesta told ESPN.
The 37-year-old Messi has been instrumental in Inter Miami’s record-breaking season, breaking the MLS mark for most points in a single season. With 74 points in 34 games, the club surpassed the New England Revolution’s 2021 record of 73 points.
Iniesta, who won eight Ballon d’Or awards with Messi, was speaking ahead of Messi’s record-breaking hat-trick in Inter Miami’s 6-2 win over the Revolution on the final day of the regular season.
"Leo is football in its purest form," Iniesta gushed. "What Leo represents as a footballer is football, which is what he does best. He knows how to interpret everything to perfection."
Iniesta also spoke about the rise of 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, another Barça prodigy, who has drawn comparisons with Messi. The youngster has made over 60 appearances for the club, including a key role in Spain’s European Championship win this summer.
"It’s normal that as a young player he can play almost all the games. Now there are many games, whether it’s for club or country," Iniesta acknowledged. "Organisations have to think carefully about the health of the players and combine it with the spectacle. Adding games only takes its toll on the players."
Iniesta stressed the importance of protecting and guiding young players like Yamal to continue excelling. "We need to accompany his development," he emphasized. "We can’t forget he’s just 17, and year after year, we need to be alongside him so that the very high level he’s shown at 17, he keeps increasing it because that’s the demand of being in the elite, of playing for Barça and the national team. It’s a beautiful challenge."
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