‘Mind blowing’ Lionel Messi makes ‘dream’ come true for Inter Miami teammate after unexpected move to MLS

David Ruiz admits that playing alongside Lionel Messi at Inter Miami has been “mind blowing”, with the Argentine icon making dreams come true.

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WHAT HAPPENED?
Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi took the decision to head for America in 2023 when reaching the end of his contract at Paris Saint-Germain. A move to MLS had been speculated on prior to that, but his arrival in the United States still came as a surprise to many.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Plenty of those now occupy the same dressing room in Florida, with Ruiz prepared to admit that he never expected to be a club colleague of the all-time great. He has been now for over a year, with the 20-year-old Miami native thrilled to be working with the most decorated player in history.
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WHAT RUIZ SAID
Honduras international Ruiz has told Inter Miami’s official YouTube channel when asked if he thought Messi would ever be his teammate: “No, I didn’t. I was just trying to break in with the first-team, and it was crazy, everything was going my way and then when Messi came in, it was mind blowing, I really didn’t expect that. I was a little kid watching him play, and now playing with him is a dream.”

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WHAT NEXT?
Ruiz has been a regular again for Inter Miami this season, as they chase down MLS Cup and Leagues Cup glory, with the Herons looking for others to step up at present as talismanic captain Messi works his way back from an ankle injury picked up in the 2024 Copa America final.

WHAT HAPPENED?