A tender moment of football legend Lionel Messi with his family has gone viral after Inter Miami won the Campeones Cup 2-0 against Cruz Azul.
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The clip shows Messi celebrating on the pitch with his children, Ciro, Thiago and Mateo, hugging them, and an exhausted Messi held by his two sons, Mateo and Ciro, coincidentally recreating a fan art associated with the Dragon Ball series where the protagonist Son Goku is held by his two sons, Gohan and Goten.
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Messi scored his 100th goal for Inter Miami with a header and won the 49th official trophy of his career, proving more of his status as the most decorated football player in history. Fans have sent warm wishes and positive responses all over social media for a 39-year-old Messi still going strong in his football career.
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After the cup-hoisting ceremony at the pitch, Messi was seen spending family time with his three sons and wife, Antonela Roccuzzo. Videos show Messi’s youngest son, Ciro, giving a sweat-drenched Messi a hug, but then scrunching his face hilariously and telling his dad that he stinks before pulling away. Messi burst out laughing at his son’s act. Thiago was seen hugging him tightly with a scrunching face because of the sweat. Meanwhile, Mateo hugged him with complete indifference.
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Fans have reacted positively to the warm family interaction, as they find Messi to be a role model for someone successful in both professional and personal life.
There are also posts about how Messi resembles Son Goku in so many other ways. A fan posted that Messi became friends with his former rivals, such as Sergio Ramos and Casemiro, which was something Goku did in the Dragon Ball series. Son Goku also befriended his fiercest enemies, like Piccolo Jr. and Vegeta.
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Other posts also comparing Messi and Goku have come up. Fans say they see Goku in Messi because of his quiet, action-driven demeanour and effortless mastery and because both are well attached to their family.
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All three of Messi’s sons train at the Inter Miami Youth academy. Thiago Messi plays in the Under-15 squad, and his other two sons, Mateo and Ciro, are in the U12s and U9s, respectively. Ciro, in particular, had a stellar performance this year by winning youth trophies and secured and MVP honors at the Dreams cup.
The after-match celebration at the Inter Miami home stadium went viral for more than one reason. The Campeones Cup was Messi’s 49th official trophy in his career, and the heated interaction during the celebration between Messi and Don Garber, commissioner of Major League Soccer. Nevertheless, fans are satisfied that their legend has a family as his pillar of support at all times and to hold him up when needed.
